Should Members of Congress Have Their Pay Withheld During a Gov’t Shutdown? (S. 2327)

What is S. 2327?

(Updated July 9, 2019)

This bill would withhold the pay of members of Congress during any period in which there’s a lapse in funding that results in a government shutdown. If enacted it would take effect beginning with the 116th Congress in 2019, as the 27th Amendment prohibits a Congress (in this case the 115th) from raising or lowering its own pay.

Argument in favor

If members of Congress can’t do their job and keep the government funded, they shouldn’t get paid for as long as the government is shutdown — it’s that simple.

Argument opposed

Withholding the paychecks belonging to all members of Congress during a government shutdown would cause undue hardship on them and their families.

Impact

Members of Congress.

Cost of S. 2327

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) introduced this bill to withhold the pay of members of Congress during a government shutdown:

“Hard working North Dakotans like our farmers and ranchers do everything they can to support their families and make ends meet. If they don’t get the job done in the field, they don’t get paid, and the same should be true for their representatives in Congress. If members of Congress can’t fulfill their basic duty to keep government open and provide the essential services Americans depend on, then they don’t deserve their paychecks. Period.”

This legislation is cosponsored by nine cosponsors in the Senate, all of whom are Democrats.

Media:

• Sponsoring Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) Press Release