Senators vote not to take pay raise

The Senate Tuesday overwhelmingly voted to forgo its annual pay raise.

The Senate, by a 92-6 vote, passed an amendment to the fiscal 2006 Transportation-Treasury appropriations bill offered by Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., which would freeze the Senate's 1.9 percent projected cost-of-living pay increase for 2006.

Supporters argued the move was needed to help bring down government expenses as a result of money being spent on the Iraq war and hurricane relief efforts.

"Congress is rightfully searching for ways to rein in spending across the federal government," Kyl said. "It's hard to argue that this process shouldn't include our own salaries, even if the amount saved is mostly symbolic."

Kyl said the action would save about $2 million annually.