No Pay Raise Until....

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar was supposed to receive a pay raise, but it's been blocked by Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) Vitter said he would hold the raise until Salazar began approving six new deepwater drilling permits per month. Vitter's move received a rebuke from the Senate Ethics Committee, which took no other action. Salazar is paid less then other cabinet secretaries because he was a senator when he was appointed. That restriction was about to expire. Salarzar is eligible for a raise to match cabinet pay of $199,000