
WASHINGTON (CNN) – President Bush cleared the way Friday for Hillary Clinton to become secretary of state, signing a law that removes a potential constitutional barrier for the New York senator’s nomination by reducing her prospective pay as the nation’s top diplomat.
Congress voted in 2007 to raise the secretary of state’s salary by $4700. That move meant Clinton’s nomination was in conflict with Article I, section 6 of the Constitution, which prohibits members of Congress from raising the salary for a government job, then leaving the Capitol to fill the position themselves.
If she is confirmed, Clinton’s new salary will be $186,600 – less than the $191,300 now earned by current secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, but more than her current Senate salary of $169,300.


Did "anonymous" call bushie "our god given leader who never brought shame to the office"? No wonder you're anonymous! bushie stole the office. and he has been a disgrace to the office and everyone in the country since day one! Anyone who admits to voting for him should spend the rest of their days on this planet paying restitution to the rest of us for the damage they've caused this country!
I think economy is getting worse. It is better if all Government officials reduce their salaries including Hillary Clinton. This is necessary at this hour. Barack Obama also has to give back all the remaining campaign money.
Norma – Wisconsin:
You clearly don't understand the impact of President Bush's decision. If he hadn't done this, Hillary wouldn't even be able to serve as Secretary of State. If anything, he did her a huge favor. She is talented and capable, and her biggest detriment has always been Bill. President Bush's decision has no negative impact on her.
Furthermore, do you truly believe that the republican politicians are the only ones with dirty laundry? Guess what, the dems are guilty just the same – unfortunately it's the nature of many of our political "leaders" to be two-faced, and hypocritical. this isn't a republican problem, nor is it a democrat problem – it's a problem of integrity at the highest levels of leadership in our nation.
You really ought to do better homework before you start making accusatory comments.
To norma – Wisconsin:
I would like to preface my comment by saying that I am not a Bush supporter nor an Obama or Clinton supporter.
Excuse me ma'am but did you actually read the article content? I think you are a fine example of folks who are just lazy enough to jump to conclusions by only reading headlines so they can propagate their hate...my advice to you is would be to actually read the story and you'll likely make a fool of yourself less often...
Matt says, "We all must do what the celebrity elite ruling party says." Good boy, Matt, you're a quick learner. Now spread the word.
I will never forget all the aid and comfort she gave to our enemy for the sake of her own political gain. Whatever she makes is too much in my opinion.
I say give her the full raise...its worth it to get her the hell out of New York.
Hillary Clinton is a very rich woman. If you ask me, she shouldn't get a pay at all. Another case of the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
I might like her better if she ironed my shirt.
Thats the best news lately. Hillary moves to take another job -loses her present job- does a bad job gets fired and CAN NOT go back to screwing the American people with her LIBERAL ways and thinking They ALL need to leave Liberals and democRATS hand in hand-
Seriously people,
You really believe this is Hillary's plan? to get an extra 4700 a year? Come on, use a little common sense. I'm sure that amount of money is trivial to her. This is just a nuance, remnant from 300 years ago. There are real issues on the table.
Gosh, CNN; it seems like most of your readers are idiots.
Huh? Comfort to the enemy? Are you on glue? Release your hate. The kind of work she'll be doing for $180k is 100X the job Wall Street fatcats do for their $10M. Cut her some slack.
apparently the snow and cold air has gotten to Norma in Wi, excuse me lady, but its the law, something he HAD to do was not something he chose to do because hes a mean person. Every politician has lied to some extent or another, as far as him doing whatever possible before he leaves office, how about Jimmy carter giving the military a huge pay riase before he left office, biggest one ever given in the history of military , so liek everyone has said make sure you have facts before you shoot off your font
That cut is nothing. Hillary made a bundle from Obama for accepting the job as secretary of state. She lost her chance to run in 2012. And I don't think she going to run against him. But that I am sure off, she going to make a hell of a secretary of state to a point where she might overshadow Mr. Obama as president.
To Marge @ 3:22 pm
For the Love of Heaven woman, get a life or an education. That issue is a dead fish. It has been litigated several times only to prove that the ones making the statement of his illegality are fools. Pick another sour republican point or quit blogging.
Hillary makes everything hard.
Politics makes strange bedfellows...
Aren't we in a recession? can any of you say you got a $4700 a year raise last year? Or did you lose your home or car because you were $4700 behind ? It doesn't just stop there every member of our government gave themselves raises using our tax dollars! bailing out banks using our tax dollars all the while these banks took your homes! millions of your homes! maybe a better Idea would have been to give each of us $4700 to help stave off foreclosures .Where will the Government be when there is no longer a tax base to collect taxes? seems to me alot of jobs have been lost. can anyone say that the $780 billion dollar bail out saved their job or home, i bet not actually I bet 99% of the families that lost their home their bank turned its back of them took your tax dollars to clean up their mess and told you to go live in the street. How can people not be angry about this? Handing forclosure notices to people with one hand and grabbing a government check financed by our tax dollars with the other. I just stopped paying on credit cards screw them they got $780 billion dollars of my money they dont need anymore oh darn a bad credit rating! like it really matters at this point!
See politics is seen through nieve eyes as serving the citizens and country. Here it is in black and white, it's all about the money. If your well to do, you don't need qualifications, just a name and alot of money.
I think President Bush should have been cutting on other budgets, instead he left America hanging now he wants to cut Hillary's pay, He has done so much damage to the country I wish this last 8 years look more like the Clinton years, there is no comparison, Now hopefully the Democrats take us out of the ditch like President Bill Clinton, Hillaty will one day be our next President, and will be with her and support them for all they have done, And I don't care what anybody says Bill Clinton is highly respected around the worl and Hillary will be a terrific Sec of State
the question is still out , who got the most saudi money, but one president tried to kill osama and one gave him freedom....at least his library got built..
how many pant suits can she buy with that salary ? she needs to do some shopping with good ole sarah palin
I am SO impressed with the Bush supporters here. They once again prove that denial is not just a river in Egypt.
I agree with you Dan, BHO should donate the millions that's left over from his campaign.
And for the love of God people.... read the entire article before you post a comment.
This was legally needed for her to accept the appoinment to SoS.