January 27, 2009 7:47AM 

# Sometimes Legislation Is Introduced Just for Show 

By [Jim Harper](https://www.cato.org/people/jim-harper) 

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There have been at least [nine bills to deny Members of Congress an automatic pay increase](http://www.washingtonwatch.com/blog/2009/01/07/no-salary-increase-for-congress-in-fiscal-2010/) introduced in the new Congress so far. Some are cleverly designed to deny a pay increase when the federal government’s books are out of balance.

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[Government and Politics](https://www.cato.org/government-politics) 

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