House Blocks Obama Executive Order That Quietly Raises Congressional, Government Salaries

The House of Representatives blocked a pay increase that was the result of an executive order issued late last year.

As a result of the executive order, members of the House, Senate, and the Executive Branch would have received a small bump in pay thanks to an executive order given five days before the New Year.

The increases for U.S. lawmakers were small, ranging from several hundred dollars to a little over a thousand, in comparison to what government officials were previously making overall--but are much bigger than the increases of military members' salaries and government employees' salaries.

The Executive order, signed on December 27, 2012 by President Barack Obama lifted a year-long government-wide pay freeze on federal salaries, including those of various high government officials, Congress, government employees and the armed services members.

The changes wouldn't have went into effect until March 27, and wouldn't have effected the pay of outgoing members.

Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-Minn.), Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) all oppose the pay increase.

Here's a list of some of the changes in pay:

-Vice President Joe Biden's salary would have went from $225,521 to $231,900--a $1,200 increase.

-All members of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives would have received a $900 pay increase from $174,000 to $174,900.

-The President Pro Tempore of the Senate would have received a $1,000 increase in pay from $193,400 to $194,400.

-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader of the Senate Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) would have received a $1,000 pay increase from $193,400 to $194,400.

-House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) would have seen their pay rise from $193,400 to $194,400--a $1,000 increase.

-House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) would have seen his $223,500 salary increase to $224,600--a $1,100 increase.