(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA, Wis. – Congressman Bryan Steil, a Republican representing Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District, announced Monday that he has introduced legislation aimed at stopping members of Congress from collecting pay during federal government shutdowns.
Steil partnered with U.S. Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana to introduce the Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act, which would prevent lawmakers from receiving their salaries during the ongoing shutdown and automatically deduct pay during future ones. Steil said he has personally requested that his own pay be withheld until the shutdown ends.
“There is no reason our government should be shut down,” Steil said. “If service members, men and women of federal law enforcement, and other essential employees are working without pay during the shutdown, members of Congress should not be paid either. I’ve had my pay withheld and believe every member of Congress should do the same.”
Under the Constitution and federal law, members of Congress are “entitled to receive” their monthly salaries regardless of whether the government is operating. The legislation would change that policy for the current Congress and all future ones, ensuring that members face the same financial impact as other federal employees during shutdowns.
The bill would also apply additional penalties starting with the 120th Congress, directly reducing members’ pay for each day the government remains unfunded.
Steil criticized Democrats for opposing a short-term spending bill that Republicans passed in September to keep the government running. “All but one Democrat in the U.S. House voted against the clean continuing resolution,” the release stated. “Nearly every Democrat in the U.S. Senate voted 13 times against the continuing resolution, causing the ongoing shutdown.”
Because of the budget impasse, pay for members of the military, federal law enforcement officers, and many other government employees is temporarily on hold until Congress reaches an agreement to reopen the government.
Steil, who continues to work in both Washington and southeastern Wisconsin during the shutdown, said his legislation is designed to hold lawmakers accountable for failing to do their jobs.
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7 Responses
Cool, do term limits next, because no one needs to be in office for more than 8-12
years.
Elections should determine terms. Term limits help get good people tossed while the next version of AOC steps up to fill their shoes. People like Bernie would always get replaced by another Bernie, because that’s what his batshit left crazy base votes for.
Likewise the MAGA cult does the same!
Good first step, now prevent legalized insider trading by congress.
This is a dog and pony show. All “con”gress clowns are multi-millionaires. They could care less about their salaries.
How can we miss your worthless ass if you don’t go away?
This bill now has to be voted on. It should’ve been done a long time ago. No term limits, insider trading, campaign contributions from lobbying firms…the list of the ways our government is corrupt goes on and on. There’s a reason rich people run for office! We need to go back to “by the people, for the people” governing. Please let people with integrity step up!