Government pay cut?

Now this is funny -- government restraint at it's best!

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Hillary Clinton will have to accept less pay than her predecessor as secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, to avoid running foul of an obscure provision in the US Constitution.

Congress late Wednesday adopted a measure to award Senator Clinton, president-elect Barack Obama's nominee for the top diplomatic job, a salary of 186,600 dollars -- 4,700 dollars less than Rice's pay now of 191,300 dollars.

No member of Congress can take a job in the executive branch if that post saw a salary increase during their term, according to Article One, Section Six of the Constitution.

Therefore, Senator Clinton cannot become secretary of state without reverting to Rice's pre-January 2007 salary of 186,600 dollars.

Provided she is confirmed by the Senate, the former first lady will still be taking home more than she earns now as a senator for New York -- 169,300 dollars.

A joint resolution fixing the pay irregularity passed through the House of Representatives and Senate on Wednesday and now awaits the signature of President George W. Bush.