The House Wednesday cleared a resolution intended to allow Sen. Ken Salazar , D-Colo., to become secretary of the Interior.
The resolution, which passed by voice vote, was crafted to sidestep a constitutional issue that could otherwise block Salazar from moving to the executive branch.
Under what is known as the “emoluments clause” of the Constitution, members of Congress may not be appointed to an executive position if compensation for that job has increased during a member’s term of office.
The resolution would reduce the Interior Secretary’s salary to $181,100, the level of compensation when Salazar’s Senate term began in January 2005. The current salary is $191,300.
The Senate passed the resolution Tuesday by voice vote. It will now go to the president.
Congress enacted a similar measure for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton , D-N.Y., President-elect Barack Obama ’s choice for secretary of State.