Bill to Cut Congressional Salaries Receives Bipartisan Support

A dozen lawmakers of both parties have signed on to a bill to give themselves a pay cut as a way to show that Congress is willing to make sacrifices as many Americans suffer through tough economic times.

Under the legislation introduced this week by Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Ariz.), congressional salaries would be docked by 5 percent, The New York Times reported.

Since rank-and-file lawmakers earn $174,000 annually, the measure would cut their salaries by $8,700.

So far three Republicans and nine Democrats said they would co-sponsor the bill, which would take effect Jan. 1, 2011. Kirkpatrick said she was confident she would get more support as unemployment rates remain high and the national debt grows.

"I think it's encouraging to see that members of Congress really get that Americans are suffering," Kirkpatrick told the Times. "I think there's a lot of people who share my concern about this historic debt."

If passed, the bill would trim congressional paychecks for the first time since the Great Depression.