Nation IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON, D.C. : Federal Judge Backs Lawmakers’ Pay Hike

A U.S. judge refused to block January’s 3.2% pay raise for members of Congress. U.S. District Judge Stanley Sporkin said groups challenging the increase did not convince him the automatic adjustment violated the 27th Amendment to the Constitution. The challengers said they would appeal. The amendment, ratified in May, says: “No law varying the compensation for the services of the senators and representatives shall take effect until an election of representatives shall have intervened.” The government argued that the 1989 law on cost-of-living adjustments is in sync with the amendment.