Describing it as "my little role," Sen. Roosevelt David has announced that, given the government's fiscal straits, he is putting his personal staff on a four-day work week, will put in extra hours himself to "pick up the slack," and will take a voluntary pay cut "so we can all feel the pain together."
He said Thursday that he took the action after discussing options with his staff members. Employees' workdays will be staggered, he said, so the office will be covered during all regular work hours.
Calling the move an exercise in fiscal discipline, David said it also represented recognition of a potential silver lining in the economic storm clouds.
The time off will allow staff members to "start their own little part-time businesses . . . and help to stimulate the economy," he said.
David did not say how much he will cut his own pay. Senators earn $65,000 a year.