Scott Perry votes against overtime pay for Secret Service agents

US Rep Scott Perry, who played an important role in trying to overturn Pennsylvania’s 2020 election results, recently voted against overtime pay for Secret Service agents. 

Update: A member of Congressman Scott Perry’s staff followed up with The Keystone to state that Perry voted for a Senate’s version of overtime pay for Secret Service Officers. They offered the following:

“Rep. Perry voted to reinstate the overtime pay cap, which still allows Secret Service agents to receive overtime. Hardworking Secret Service agents will continue to receive well-earned overtime pay. Our country is $34 trillion in debt; the Biden Administration’s staffing oversights cannot keep forcing the American People into limitless spending.”

Congressman Scott Perry (R-York) was one of 20 US House Republicans who recently voted against legislation that would allow US Secret Service agents to collect overtime pay during the 2024 and 2028 elections. 

The Secret Service is one of the country’s top federal law enforcement agencies, tasked with protecting both domestic and visiting foreign leaders, candidates, and nominees, as well as ensuring safety at major national events. However, an exception allowing them to collect overtime pay beyond what it is traditionally capped at expired at the end of 2023. 

US Reps. Mark E Green (R-Tenn) and Bennie Thompson (D-Miss), who both sit on the House Committee on Homeland Security, introduced the Overtime Pay for Protective Services Act, which aimed to lift the overtime cap for Secret Service agents.

The US Senate passed the legislation in December with the support of the Federal Law Enforcement Officials Association, but when it arrived in the House, it passed 379 to 20.

At the end of January, US Rep. Byron  Donalds (R-Florida) was able to suspend the House rules for a full vote on the bill, and Perry was one of 20 House Republicans who voted against the passage of the bill. 

“While this career can be extremely rewarding, the job itself is challenging and stressful, with agents and officers often working long hours around the clock, including on holidays and weekends,” Donalds (R-Florida) said on the House floor last month.  

“Through these sacrifices, Secret Service agents and officers commit their lives to public service and deserve to be fairly compensated for their work.”

This wasn’t the first time Perry turned his back on federal law enforcement officers. 

Perry, who was in constant communications with former Trump officials and played a crucial role in trying to overturn Pennsylvania’s 2020 election results, joined a small group of Republicans in June 2021 and voted against awarding Congressional gold medals to US Capitol Police officers for protecting the capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. 

Following the vote, Perry called the vote “garbage” according to CNN reporter Melanie Zanona.