Representative Scott Peters, named by Business Insider as the nation’s second-wealthiest freshman legislator, announced yesterday that in a symbolic gesture protesting the ongoing sequestration budget cuts he would begin donating eight percent of his monthly salary, or about $1,300, to the Senior Community Center of San Diego.
Democrat Peters, representing California’s 52nd district, said in a press release accompanying the voluntary move that “any rules Congress imposes on federal employees and all Americans ought to apply to us, too.
“Federal employees, military contractors, and thousands of small businesses and individuals who contract with the federal government are being forced to take indiscriminate pay cuts. Members of Congress should share the impact of these cuts as well.”
According to Paul Downey of the Senior Community Center, budget cuts of about $60,000 will reduce the number of meals served to nutrition program participants by about 21,000. Peters’s donations will be applied to reduce the number of meals cut by just under 5,900.
The move doesn’t appear likely to have much impact on the bottom line in the Peters household, however. With a minimum net worth just shy of $34 million, Peters would have ranked 12th on last year’s list of the 50 richest members of Congress, behind Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein (9th, $41.78 million) and Republican Rep. Darrell Issa of North County (3rd, $140.55 million).
Representative Scott Peters, named by Business Insider as the nation’s second-wealthiest freshman legislator, announced yesterday that in a symbolic gesture protesting the ongoing sequestration budget cuts he would begin donating eight percent of his monthly salary, or about $1,300, to the Senior Community Center of San Diego.
Democrat Peters, representing California’s 52nd district, said in a press release accompanying the voluntary move that “any rules Congress imposes on federal employees and all Americans ought to apply to us, too.
“Federal employees, military contractors, and thousands of small businesses and individuals who contract with the federal government are being forced to take indiscriminate pay cuts. Members of Congress should share the impact of these cuts as well.”
According to Paul Downey of the Senior Community Center, budget cuts of about $60,000 will reduce the number of meals served to nutrition program participants by about 21,000. Peters’s donations will be applied to reduce the number of meals cut by just under 5,900.
The move doesn’t appear likely to have much impact on the bottom line in the Peters household, however. With a minimum net worth just shy of $34 million, Peters would have ranked 12th on last year’s list of the 50 richest members of Congress, behind Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein (9th, $41.78 million) and Republican Rep. Darrell Issa of North County (3rd, $140.55 million).