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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Cherry-Picked Pay-Raise Attacks on Perdue

Cherry-Picked Pay-Raise Attacks on Perdue

A Democratic super PAC cherry-picks from huge appropriations bills that Georgia Republican Sen. David Perdue opposed in order to accuse him of trying to increase his own pay while rejecting pay increases for the military.

False Claim of Congressional Pay Raises in Stimulus Bill

False Claim of Congressional Pay Raises in Stimulus Bill

Facebook posts falsely claim that House Democrats included $25 million to boost their own salaries in their proposal for the coronavirus-related stimulus package. That funding is not for legislators’ pay increases; it’s also in the bill being advanced by the Republican-controlled Senate.

Posts Resurface Made-up ‘Congressional Reform’ Bill

Posts Resurface Made-up ‘Congressional Reform’ Bill

Viral Facebook posts claim President Donald Trump has endorsed a supposed “Congressional Reform Act of 2017.” But no such bill exists. The text in the posts has circulated for years without references to Trump, and it is riddled with false claims.

Meme Inflates Rise in Congressional Salaries

Meme Inflates Rise in Congressional Salaries

A viral meme on Facebook falsely claims that members of Congress have received a “231%” increase in pay in the last 30 years. Automatic cost-of-living adjustments have resulted in an increase of 94.4% from 1989 to 2009.

Post Misleads on Congressional Salaries, Social Security

Post Misleads on Congressional Salaries, Social Security

Q: Did members of Congress approve a salary increase for themselves and deny an increase in Social Security benefits? 

A: No. Congress is still contemplating whether to allow an automatic pay increase for its members, and it does not determine cost-of-living adjustments for Social Security beneficiaries.

Congressional Pensions Update

Congressional Pensions Update

Q: Can members of Congress retire and receive their full pay after serving one term?
A: No. Only senators are eligible for a pension after one term, but it won’t be their full salary.

Grimes Ad Misses the Mark on McConnell

Grimes Ad Misses the Mark on McConnell

Thought you’d seen it all this political season? An ad from Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes criticizes Sen. Mitch McConnell for his vote on a bill that President Obama praised, and even thanked McConnell by name for supporting.

Double Whopper Against King

Double Whopper Against King

A TV ad from Democrat Jim Mowrer claims Iowa Rep. Steve King “did vote to raise his own pay by $20,000 a year and take perks like free health care for life.” That’s a double whopper.

Cherry-Picking McConnell’s Pay Raise Votes

Cherry-Picking McConnell’s Pay Raise Votes

A Democratic TV ad attacking Sen. Mitch McConnell for voting to “raise his own pay four times” simply ignores other votes he has cast to prevent automatic pay increases for members of Congress.

An Election-Year Virus

Debunked again and again, a false e-mail keeps circulating claiming members of Congress don’t pay Social Security taxes.