Deal Opens Way for Congress’ Pay Raise

House-Senate bargainers agreed, in a three-minute meeting, to a compromise spending bill that opens the door for members of Congress to receive a $3,072 pay raise, their first increase in five years. The negotiators agreed to drop a Senate provision that would have blocked a cost-of-living increase in the $133,600 salary that senators and representatives outside the leadership receive. The House voted last week to let the pay raise take effect--leaving the two chambers temporarily at loggerheads. Opponents say support for the increase is widespread.