To provide for a 10 percent reduction in pay for Members of Congress, to make Federal civilian employees subject to a period of mandatory unpaid leave, to reduce appropriations for salaries and expenses for offices of the legislative branch during fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and Administrative Law.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 12, 2011

Freezes the annual rate of pay for Members of Congress through December 31, 2012, and reduces it by 10% in 2013.

Requires the President to subject executive branch employees to two weeks of mandatory unpaid leave (or the pro rata equivalent in the case of employees serving for less than the entire fiscal year) during FY2012. Requires the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to apply such requirement to judicial branch employees. Allows exceptions for reasons of national security or reasons relating to the public health or safety, including effective law enforcement.

Limits the aggregate amount which may be appropriated or otherwise made available for FY2012 for allowances and expenses (including salaries) of any legislative branch office, except the U.S. Capitol Police, to 96% of the aggregate amount appropriated or otherwise made available for FY2011 for such allowances and expenses.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Coffman, Mike [R-CO-6] · R–CO

Committees

Judiciary Committee
Oversight and Government Reform Committee
Committee on House Administration

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Feb 14, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and Administrative Law.
Feb 8, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service, and Labor Policy .
Jan 12, 2011
Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jan 12, 2011
Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jan 12, 2011
Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jan 12, 2011
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E55)
Jan 12, 2011
Introduced in House
Jan 12, 2011
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Jan 12, 2011 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Feb 4, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.270 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.270, 112th Congress: To provide for a 10 percent reduction in pay for Members of Congress, to make Federal civilian employees subject to a period of mandatory unpaid leave, to reduce appropriations for salaries and expenses for offices of the legislative branch during fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/270

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-01-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr270/BILLS-112hr270ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-02-04T16:58:18Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.270 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.270 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.270, 112th Congress: To provide for a 10 percent reduction in pay for Members of Congress, to make Federal civilian employees subject to a period of mandatory unpaid leave, to reduce appropriations for salaries and expenses for offices of the legislative branch during fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/270

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-01-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr270/BILLS-112hr270ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-02-04T16:58:18Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.270 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.270 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.270, 112th Congress: To provide for a 10 percent reduction in pay for Members of Congress, to make Federal civilian employees subject to a period of mandatory unpaid leave, to reduce appropriations for salaries and expenses for offices of the legislative branch during fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/270

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-01-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr270/BILLS-112hr270ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-02-04T16:58:18Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.270 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.270 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.270, 112th Congress: To provide for a 10 percent reduction in pay for Members of Congress, to make Federal civilian employees subject to a period of mandatory unpaid leave, to reduce appropriations for salaries and expenses for offices of the legislative branch during fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/270

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-01-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr270/BILLS-112hr270ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-02-04T16:58:18Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.270 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.