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Posted: Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013 12:19 PM HST

Bill puts brakes on congressional pay raise

By Associated Press

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The bill that will keep the U.S. from falling off the "fiscal cliff" also postpones a pay raise for members of Congress. President Barack Obama last week signed an executive order that would provide members of Congress and federal workers a pay increase in the early part of this year. The order called for salaries for rank-and-file senators and representatives to rise from $174,000 a year to $174,900 a year. The fiscal cliff legislation included a provision barring any cost of living increase for members of Congress, at least through September, the end of the fiscal year. Alaska's senators opposed giving members of Congress a pay raise. Hawaii Rep. Mazie Hirono said members of Congress should not receive a raise while the U.S. economy "is still so fragile."