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Friday November 04, 2011 | 10:55 AM

Earlier this week Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-1st, called for a mix of spending cuts and new revenues – meaning tax hikes – as part of the plan reached by the congressional “super committee” charged with finding at least $1.2 trillion in savings.

Pingree was one of 100 House members – 60 Democrats and 40 Republicans - to sign on to a letter last week to the super committee calling for the “balanced” approach.

Now, Pingree is helping circulate another bipartisan letter to the super committee, this one calling for a congressional pay cut to help reach those savings. Along with Pingree the original signers are GOP Reps. David Schweikert of Arizona and Mike Coffman of Colorado and Democratic Rep. Jason Altmire of Pennsylvania.

The letter notes that a congressional pay cut has been proposed by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, the Arizona Democrat shot during a public event in her district earlier this year.

 “Compensation reductions can result in real deficit savings,” the letter says. “We urge you to include in your final deal significant savings from reductions to Member of Congress compensation – both as a commonsense way to cut government spending and to send a powerful message to the American people that Congress should not be exempt from the sacrifices it will take to balance the budget.”

A five percent pay cut to the $174,000 House member’s salary would save $50 million over ten years, while a 10 percent cut would save $100 million, the letter says.

About this Blog

Jonathan Riskind is the Washington Bureau Chief for MaineToday Media, covering Maine’s congressional delegation and all things Maine on Capitol Hill and around D.C. for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel.

Before joining the Maine team, he was the longtime D.C. bureau chief for the Columbus Dispatch.

Please follow him, also, on Twitter @MaineTodayDC.He can be reached at jriskind@mainetoday.com or by leaving a message at 791-6280.

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