Bush Signs Big Raise for Quayle, Cabinet, House

President Bush signed an executive order Wednesday that raises the pay of his vice president, Cabinet, members of the House and top government executives by tens of thousands of dollars apiece.

Vice President Dan Quayle, House Speaker Thomas S. Foley (D-Wash.) and Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist all will make $160,600 a year as of Jan. 1, after receiving a pay raise of about 29%.

Bush’s order provides a 4.1% across-the-board raise for all federal workers. Bush’s own annual salary remains frozen at $200,000.

Congress already has provided money for the pay raises. Bush’s order, which had been expected, was necessary to make it official.

The members of the House and several non-voting delegates will make $125,100 next year, and U.S. senators will receive $101,900.

The House voted itself a 25% increase in pay, plus a cost-of-living adjustment, in exchange for forgoing speech honorariums. The senators passed up the bigger pay raise but can still draw speech fees, up to a maximum of about $27,500.

House members earned $96,600 this year, and senators were paid $98,400.

In addition to Rehnquist, all other members of the federal judiciary are in for a raise. Associate justices of the Supreme Court will receive $153,600; appeals court judges, $132,700, and district, court of international trade and claims court judges, $125,100.