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Senate removes pay roadblock for Clinton move to State
The position's salary was decreased to adhere to rule barring lawmakers from taking government jobs for which the pay was raised during their current term in office.
The Senate cleared the way Wednesday for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., to become secretary of State in the Obama administration by agreeing to roll the position's salary back to 2007 levels.
The move was necessary because of a constitutional clause barring members of Congress from taking government jobs for which the pay was raised during their current term in office.
The provision is designed to prevent lawmakers from personally benefiting from laws they have passed -- including those setting salaries for government jobs.
The Senate voted last year to increase the salaries of Cabinet secretaries from $186,600 to $191,300.