Some Republicans expressed frustration Monday that measures to withhold lawmaker pay when there’s a lapse in federal funding weren’t included as a part of a deal to finish the 41-day authorities shutdown.
The record-long shutdown compelled 1000’s of presidency employees — together with navy personnel, federal regulation enforcement officers and air site visitors controllers — to work with out pay, whereas lawmakers continued to obtain their six-figure salaries.
“Democrats simply precipitated the longest shutdown in our nation’s historical past and proved they’re keen to deprive hundreds of thousands of hardworking People of their paychecks — members of our navy, federal regulation enforcement, FAA, Capitol Police — all whereas cashing their very own paychecks,” Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) instructed The Submit.
“And Dems have already stated they’re keen to do it once more,” he added.
As Democratic senators repeatedly rejected GOP efforts to reopen the federal government, Scott urged his colleagues to right away cross his No Funds, No Pay Act, which might stop members of Congress from being paid in a fiscal 12 months till each chambers approve a funds decision and cross all common appropriations payments for that fiscal 12 months.
The invoice has been referred to committee.
“It’s pure hypocrisy,” Scott seethed of lawmakers cashing paychecks amid the shutdown. “Our navy and federal staff shouldn’t be punished as a result of Congress can’t do its job!”
“It’s time to cross my No Funds, No Pay Act that claims if we are able to’t fund the federal government, members shouldn’t receives a commission. Interval.”
Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) additionally pushed laws to pause paychecks for lawmakers through the shutdown, which was blocked final week by Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.).
“My solely disappointment within the deal that we’ve got, I strongly needed a provision added that senators can’t be paid through the shutdown,” Kennedy stated throughout an look on Fox Information’ “The Will Cain Present.”
“It’s referred to as shared sacrifice. It’s referred to as management,” the Louisiana Republican continued. “We had been getting paid, however our employees wasn’t.”
Members of Congress obtain an annual wage of $174,000 a 12 months, which is a bit greater for members of management.
Their paychecks are assured by the Structure, which requires that “Senators and Representatives shall obtain a Compensation for his or her Providers, to be ascertained by Regulation, and paid out of the Treasury of the US.”
The twenty seventh Modification additionally blocks Congress from passing legal guidelines that have an effect on lawmaker pay in the identical congressional time period.
Kennedy’s No Shutdown Paychecks to Politicians Act would power lawmakers to go with out pay for daily that the federal government is shut down, and his Withhold Member Pay Throughout Shutdowns Act will get across the constitutional query by withholding paychecks in escrow till after the November 2026 elections.
“I didn’t take my wage,” Kennedy famous, “however our employees wasn’t getting paid, and air site visitors controllers and our navy … I assumed it was the peak of hypocrisy.”
“My management blocked me from bringing that invoice, however I’m not going to cease. I’m going to maintain coming,” he pledged.
At the very least 55 out of the 100 senators within the higher chamber had been reportedly not taking their paychecks or donating them amid the shutdown, ABC Information reported final week.
The outlet tallied responses from 26 Republicans, 28 Democrats and 1 impartial, indicating that their paychecks had been being put aside.
“It’s gross and wishes to finish,” Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) stated of lawmakers getting paid whereas important authorities employees “undergo.”
Moreno’s SHUTDOWN Act, which was launched final month and referred to committee, would penalize members of Congress by imposing a day by day tax throughout a authorities shutdown.
“Democrats like Hakeem Jeffries need to receives a commission for shutting the federal government down,” Moreno stated in an announcement. “That’s ridiculous. If Congress can’t do the naked minimal, we don’t deserve a paycheck.”
