Reality Check: Bachmann, Clark On Lawmaker Pay
ST PAUL (WCCO) Like most of the ads from both sides in the 6th District Congressional race, Michele Bachmann's ad about Tarryl Clark is negative.
What it says about Clark is factually true, but incomplete.
"Tarryl Clark is at it again. Not telling the truth about Michele Bachmann's record," the ad begins. "Michele led the fight in Congress to freeze congressional pay."
This is TRUE.
Bachmann was front and center on Republican efforts to freeze the pay of Congress, to stop it from rising to $174,000.
She offered a resolution that failed, and she's voted against pay hikes in the past.
"But Clark's ally, Nancy Pelosi, made sure Congress got its raise," the ad continues.
That's an EXAGGERATION.
The ad ties Clark to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a device Republicans are using against Democratic candidates around the country. It is political guilt by association; but in the heat of a campaign it generally falls fairly within the bounds of political discourse.
Here's what's NOT said: Bachmann fought the pay hike, but accepted it.
According to Bachmann campaign spokesman Sergio Gar: "The only way she can refuse a salary hike that's become law is to cut a check to the federal treasury."
The Bachmann ad also suggests Clark raised her own pay.
According to the ad, "When Clark had the chance to vote on a 5 percent pay cut for herself, she voted no. And then voted herself a 45-percent per diem increase."
This is TRUE but it's DISTORTED.
Clark voted against cutting state senators' $31,000 salary.
And she voted in favor of raising daily expense payments from $77 to $96 per day.
But that's NOT THE WHOLE STORY.
Clark cut her own per diem pay from $18,356 in 2007 to $10,780 in 2009.
That's Reality Check.
To check the resources for this Reality Check, click on the links below.
- Michele Bachmann for Congress
- Tarryl Clark for Congress
- Motion to Recommit Pay Freeze
- Salaries and Benefits of US Congress Members
- MinnPost: Michele Bachmann pushing measure to freeze federal salaries
- Lawmaker Salaries Bolstered With Extras
- February 21, 2007 Senate Floor Session: Per diem resolution approved
