Walz to return pay raise to the U.S. Treasury

If Congress votes to keep a cost-of-living increase this session as scheduled, Rep. Tim Walz will give that money back, Blue Stem Prairie reports.

“I am committed to fiscal responsibility and to changing the way Washington works,” said Rep. Walz in a press release. “The reinstatement of pay-as-you-go budgeting has finally put this country back on the right track towards a balanced budget, but until we reach that milestone I will refuse any pay increase.”

Walz has refused to accept a pay increase until the federal budget is balanced.

“I came here to change our priorities in Washington. I don’t think it’s fair for Congress to give itself a pay raise when it can’t stick to a budget,” said Walz. “I made a promise to the people of southern Minnesota, and I intend to keep it.”

As Blue Stem Prairie points out, Rep. Randy Demmer, Republican contender for Walz’s seat, took some heat last legislative session for collecting a per diem on days he was absent from the legislature while on a trip to meet with Karl Rove.