Only two members of Congress gave back part of salary to pay down debt

Last year, records show, only two House members donated a “Gift to the United States for Reduction of Public Debt” in every fiscal quarter. Each time, Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.) gave $414.39, and Rep. Tim Walz (D-Minn.) gave $2,196.

These two are a bit of an odd couple. Bachus, a former sawmill owner in Congress since 1993, is against the health-care reform law and for a constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage. Walz, a former teacher in office since 2007, takes the opposite position on both issues. The American Conservative Union gives Bachus a rating of 96, and Walz a 4…

The only other congressman to donate toward the debt in 2010 was Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo (R-N.J.). He gave $4,782 in the first quarter and nothing thereafter. His staff said the donation was a personal matter and declined to talk about it further.