It absolutely boggles my mind that Congress could be getting paid right now while they have ran the government into the ground.
Get paid?
For what?
But you’re starting to see a growing rift in Congress between the Democrats who still have their hand out and Republicans who realize Congress should not be paid while the governement is shut down.
Send Nancy Pelosi a TRUCKLOAD of Bricks!
Case in point, good old Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who literally ran away when asked about her pay during the shutdown.
As reported in the NY Post:
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez still won’t say whether she’s giving up her salary during the partial government shutdown — a move she previously advocated for all lawmakers.
“I’ve gotta run!” Ocasio-Cortez told The Post when asked the question Thursday on Capitol Hill.
She then scampered down a crowded hallway to get in line for her mock swearing-in with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Among Ocasio-Cortez’s group was her partner, Riley Roberts. “A really incredible day, really special,” he told The Post, adding that he liked Washington thus far. “It’s great.”
Ocasio-Cortez attracted hordes of reporters and photographers on her first day as a member of Congress but stayed tight-lipped throughout the day.
That’s in contrast to her social media presence, where she cooks Instant Pot meals and talks policy with her supporters. Or blasts members of Congress for taking paychecks during the ongoing government shutdown.
In contrast, meet Sen. Steve Daines from Montana who has just introduced the No Government No Pay Act of 2019:
Pleased to join my friend Senator Steve Daines of Montana and cosponsor his “No Government No Pay Act of 2019.” Congress shouldn’t get paychecks during a shutdown while honorable federal government employees are denied theirs for no good reason.
As you can see in the Tweet above, fellow Republican Senator John Cornyn supports the No Pay act.
Republicans getting it right again!
Sen. Daines has already put his money where his mouth is, by voluntarily refusing his pay during the shutdown.
As reported by ABC13 West:
U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter requesting that the Secretary of the U.S. Senate withhold his pay during the ongoing partial shutdown of the federal government.
“I believe all sides need to come together to enhance border security and reopen the government.” Daines wrote. “Until that occurs and Border Patrol agents and other federal personnel again receive their paychecks, I think it would be inappropriate for me to receive my pay.”
Daines a senator for the Montana Republican-Party introduced a bill that would keep the government running and end shutdowns that disrupt critical government services and cost taxpayers billions and sponsored legislation to protect Americans’ national security by preserving funding for National Guard and Reserves training during a government shutdown.
The first bill Daines introduced in the 115th, 114th and 113th Congress is the Balanced Budget Accountability Act requiring that Congress pass a balanced budget – or members won’t get paid.
Newsweek had more on the No Pay Act proposal:
Republican Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Steve Daines of Montana co-sponsored an act Wednesday that would halt the pay of Congress during a government shutdown. Another senator proposed not only stopping the pay of Congress, but not allowing any backpay accrued during a shutdown.
The United States went into a partial government shutdown nearly three weeks ago, and some of the 800,000 government employees affected have continued working, not knowing if they’ll even get paid.
Now, these senators, along with other lawmakers, have acted to establish a law that says Congress can’t get paid until they work out a deal to reopen the government.
Cornyn tweeted a message Wednesday night saying they should forego their own paychecks until the current shutdown — entering its 20th day on Thursday — is resolved.
“Pleased to join my friend Senator Steve Daines of Montana and cosponsor his “No Government No Pay Act of 2019.” Congress shouldn’t get paychecks during a shutdown while honorable federal government employees are denied theirs for no good reason.”
The government went into partial shutdown mode at midnight Eastern Time on Dec. 21 after Republican and Democrat lawmakers in Washington hit a budget stalemate over President Donald Trump’s request for $5.7 billion to construct a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Democrats have since proposed a budget that didn't include funding for a wall, which the president refused to sign.
With the shutdown heading towards three weeks, engulfing the new calendar year and creeping into tax season, many government employees have been left wondering how to pay their bills. It has affected Homeland Security, the United States Coast Guard, national parks, national museums and even has folks trying to figure out if they'll get their tax returns.
Immediately after the shutdown in late 2018, newly-elected New York Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said Congress shouldn’t get paid while so many blue-collar federal employees go without paychecks. Many Republicans agreed with her.
Senators Cornyn and Daines aren’t the only lawmakers who have introduced such measures.
Republican Rep. John Curtis of Utah introduced H.R. 26 — the “No Work, No Pay Act of 2019” on Tuesday.
“The American people expect Congress to do its most basic job: pass a budget and fund the government. If we can’t, then we shouldn’t get paid,” Curtis said in this report by Fox 13 in Salt Lake City. “Washington should take note of states like Utah that do it right. Not only does the Utah Legislature pass a baseline budget at the beginning of each legislative session to avoid any state government shutdown threats, but they also responsibly balance the state’s budget every year.”
Mike Braun, a freshman Republican senator from Indiana, told the Indianapolis Star “there are consequences for unfinished work in the business world,” therefore introducing “No Budget, No Pay” legislation, which would also prohibit lawmakers from getting back pay once a budget is passed.
“In the private sector, folks roll up their sleeves and get to work on day one, and that’s exactly what we’re doing by introducing No Budget, No Pay legislation,” Braun said in a statement to IndyStar. “There are consequences for unfinished work in the business world, and considering it’s Congress’s job to pass budgets and spending bills, it’s time we hold Washington to the same standard.”
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