American Notes CONGRESS

It was one of the more transparent congressional maneuvers in recent memory: lawmakers last February voted against boosting their annual salaries from $77,400 to $89,500 -- one day after a presidential order establishing the pay hike had gone into effect. The move allowed Congressmen to tell constituents they opposed the increase even as they pocketed the extra cash.

But as the first installment of the raise appeared in congressional paychecks last week, 57 House members and 13 Senators said no to the $12,100 pay hike. Most of the refuseniks donated the money to charity or returned it to the U.S. Treasury. The honorable gesture shocked one of Senator Alan Simpson's most loyal supporters. Says the Wyoming Republican: "When I told my wife I gave the money back, she said, 'You did what?' "