In addition to returning a portion of his MRA every year since coming to Congress, Donnelly has consistently voted against pay increases for members of Congress. Donnelly believes the cut he supported Thursday should also apply to representatives’ salaries which is why he joined Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in introducing legislation to also apply the 5 percent cut to members’ salaries.
The resolution cutting 5 percent from all representatives’ office budgets, House leadership budgets, and House committee budgets passed with bipartisan support, 410 to 13.
Donnelly issues statement on election of House Speaker
Congressman Donnelly took the oath of office Wednesday (Jan. 5) to serve as Representative of Indiana’s Second Congressional District in the 112th Congress.
Donnelly also issued the following statement Wednesday after voting in the House’s election of a new Speaker for the 112th Congress:
“This afternoon, I cast my vote for Rep. Heath Shuler of North Carolina for Speaker of the House in the 112th Congress,” said Donnelly. “I supported my friend Congressman Shuler over former Speaker Nancy Pelosi during our party’s leadership elections in November citing a need for new leadership.
"This need remains the same," Donnelly continued. " What the voters told us in the 2010 election was that they wanted a change. And I believe a moderate approach with a dedication to working across the aisle, something I know is important to both me and Congressman Shuler, is the best way forward.”
Rep. John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) was elected Speaker in a 241-173 vote. Pelosi was nominated for the speaker's post by the Democrats. She became speaker in 2007 following a Democratic victory in the November 2006 midterm elections. Some Democratic conservatives and moderates in the Blue Dog Coalition voted for other candidates, notably Shuler, as a way of registering their disapproval of Pelosi, although no formal alternative nomination was presented.
Nineteen Democratic Congressmen, including Donnelly, withheld their support from Pelois, instead voting present or for other candidates. Shuler received 11 of those votes.
