Wright Calls for Ending Honoraria : He Says Action Should Be Tied to Pay Hike for Lawmakers

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Jim Wright (D-Tex.), who is the target of a House ethics investigation into his personal finances, on Monday endorsed a plan to raise the pay of members of Congress while at the same time prohibiting them from supplementing their income with honoraria from special interest groups.

Sources said Wright’s surprise announcement is the first outgrowth of an active behind-the-scenes effort by congressional reformers to forge a broadly based bipartisan agreement to restructure the entire federal compensation system in 1989, raising the salaries of judges and Administration officials, as well as members of Congress.

Although the House Ethics Committee investigation of Wright has nothing to do with his acceptance of honoraria, proposals for reforming the pay system have recently gained popularity in Congress as a result of allegations that the Speaker and several other House Democrats used their positions to benefit themselves and their friends.

Limit of $2,000

Under current rules, House members can receive honoraria from special interests totaling as much as 30% of their income--or $26,000 for most members in 1987--and senators can accept up to 40% of their income--or about $35,000 last year. Each of the honoraria cannot exceed $2,000.

In recent years, members of Congress have increasingly come to rely on honoraria to supplement their salaries, which they are reluctant to increase for fear of being accused of greed by their political opponents. In 1987, total honoraria paid to members of Congress grew to a record $9.8 million.

In an interview with several reporters, Wright said honoraria should be abolished in combination with a commensurate increase in congressional salaries. He emphasized that he was not accusing any members of Congress of being influenced by honoraria but acknowledged that their rapid growth has created the appearance of wrongdoing.

‘Very Healthy Thing’

“The appearance of it has been made to look evil, so let’s get rid of it,” Wright said. “It would suit me fine to do away with honoraria. It would be a very healthy thing for Congress.”

Wright, who previously has been silent on the issue, indicated that he expects Congress to eventually do away with honoraria, even though they may still be more popular forms of compensation than a direct pay increase. “The day is coming,” he said. “I’m ready right now. I don’t know whether the members are.”

Congressional sources said Wright was persuaded to support a change in the compensation system because a number of House Democrats have recently been criticized for pushing legislation sought by those groups who pay them the most honoraria. In recent weeks, for example, Reps. Bill Chappell Jr. (D-Fla.) and Roy Dyson (D-Md.) have been accused of providing legislative favors as a direct result of honoraria they received from defense contractors.

Allegations against Chappell and Dyson, combined with the charges that Wright published a 117-page book of memoirs as a subterfuge to convert campaign funds to his personal use, have undermined the plans of many Democrats to use the “sleaze issue” to their advantage in this election year.

Negotiations are now under way on a proposal that would allow salary levels to rise substantially next year for all three branches of government, but only if Congress agrees to do away with honoraria, according to sources. Those negotiations are being held among leaders of Congress, top Administration officials and members of the so-called Quadrennial Commission, whose job it is to recommend pay for the federal government.

The two presidential nominees, Vice President George Bush and Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis, also are being asked to support the plan, sources said.

Many Enthusiastic

Many judges and executive branch officials are said to be enthusiastic about the compensation reform proposal because it would permit a large increase in their salaries, which have been held down in recent years to remain consistent with those of members of Congress. Judges and executive branch officials are prohibited from accepting honoraria.

Wright noted that no effort to raise federal salaries and abolish honoraria will succeed unless it has the support of both political parties and all branches of government. Many members of Congress will not vote for it if they risk being criticized for raising their salaries, he said.

If all parties agree to the plan, according to congressional sources, the recommendation would be made by the Quadrennial Commission next December and incorporated into the final budget that President Reagan sends to Congress next year.