Prior to 1984, neither federal civil service workers nor Members of Congress
paid taxes to Social Security, nor were they eligible for Social Security benefits.
Members of Congress and other federal employees were instead covered by a
separate pension plan called the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). The 1983
amendments to the Social Security Act (P.L. 98-21) required federal employees first
hired after 1983 to participate in Social Security. These amendments also required
all Members of Congress to participate in Social Security as of January 1, 1984,
regardless of when they first entered Congress. Because the CSRS was not designed
to coordinate with Social Security, Congress directed the development of a new
retirement plan for federal workers. The result was the Federal Employees’
Retirement System Act of 1986 (P.L. 99-335).
Members of Congress first elected in 1984 or later are covered automatically
under the Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS), unless they decline this
coverage. Those who already were in Congress when Social Security coverage went
into effect could either remain in CSRS or change their coverage to FERS.
As of October 1, 2006, 413 retired Members of Congress were receiving federal
pensions based fully or in part on their congressional service. Of this number, 290
had retired under CSRS and were receiving an average annual pension of $60,972.
A total of 123 Members had retired with service under both CSRS and FERS or with
service under FERS only. Their average annual pension was $35,952 in 2006.
http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL30631.pdf January 2011 and January 2012 Member Pay
Adjustments Denied
As stated above, projected Member pay adjustments are calculated based on changes in the
Employment Cost Index (ECI). The projected 2011 adjustment of 0.9% was known when the
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released data for the ECI change during the 12-month period
from December 2008 to December 2009 on January 29, 2010.4 This adjustment would have
equaled a $1,600 increase, resulting in a salary of $175,600.
The 2011 pay adjustment was prohibited by the enactment of H.R. 5146 (P.L. 111-165) on May
14, 2010. H.R. 5146 was introduced in the House on April 27 and was agreed to the same day
(Roll no. 226). It was agreed to in the Senate the following day by unanimous consent. Other
legislation was also introduced to prevent the scheduled 2011 pay adjustment.5
Additionally, P.L. 111-322, which was enacted on December 22, 2010, prevents any adjustment in
GS base pay before December 31, 2012. Since the percent adjustment in Member pay may not
exceed the percent adjustment in the base pay of GS employees, Member pay is also frozen
during this period. If not limited by GS pay, Members could have received a salary adjustment of
1.3% in January 2012 under the ECI formula.6
Pay for Members of Congress in 2011 will remain at the 2009 and 2010 level of $174,000.
http://www.senate.gov/CRSReports/crs-publish.cfm?pid= '*2%404P%5C%5B%3A%22%40%20%20%0A
Edited by user
15 years ago |
Reason: Not specified