Community Corner

Federal Shutdown: Should Congressional Pay Continue?

If you don’t do your job, should you be paid?

While more than 800,000 federal workers are furloughed without pay during the first government shutdown since 1996, the 535 members of Congress will continue to earn their $174,000 a year salary.

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On Tuesday, Rep. Rick Nolan (D-Minn.) introduced the "No Government - No Pay Act" that would prevent members of Congress from being paid during the duration of a government shutdown.

As The Huffington Post reports, the bill would block members from being paid their salaries for as long as a shutdown drags on.

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Nolan said in a statement, "The inability of this Congress to collaborate, compromise, and get things done has led me to introduce legislation to prohibit Members from being paid when failure to do their job results in a government shutdown. It’s time for Congress to start living in the real world – where you either do your job, or you don’t get paid."

The bill, though, may violate the 27th Amendment, which reads, "No law, varying the compensation for the services of the senators and representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened."

Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.) reference the 1992 adopted amendment when he told Westhampton-Hamptonbays Patch, "The constitution prohibits any change of members of congress pay during their term — it requires that they get paid."

Still, some members of the House and Senate, have indicated they would either refuse or donate their pay during the course of the shutdown.

According to The Washinton Post, that group includes 45 Democrats and 46 Republicans, including U.S. Reps. Paul Broun (R-Athens) and John Barrow (D-Augusta) from Georgia. 

 

-- What do you think, should lawmakers still receive pay during the government shutdown? Tell us in the comment section below? 


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