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Democrats in the House and Senate have proposed legislation halting congressional pay during a federal government shutdown.
Said Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), a co-sponsor of the legislation introduced by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Bob Casey (D-PA): “Though I’m hopeful that House Republicans will reach an agreement and back away from their threat of a government shutdown this spring, we should be realistic in preparing for that possibility.”
Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) has introduced the same legislation in the House. "If we're going to throw federal employees, including our staffs, out on the street, we should be right there with them," Moran said. "In the event of a shutdown, members should be eating peanut butter and jelly like everyone else."
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Yes, and stop their health insurance coverage as well!
Please, strip them of everything paid for with our FREAKING TAX MONEY.....we should be able to see their bones.
Lock them out of their congressional offices as well, and make them get a 'room'!
Enough with the frat house...
I'm good with all that.
Anyone who advocates for a government shutdown is ignoring the impotence of the Republican house majority "leader." He can't organize, or communicate, so in an emotional rage, he folds his arms across his chest, and drags his feet. Because of the Republican party, AmeriKa is a third world country.
Republicans want absolute power and control. They can't handle it when someone else is in charge, so they would rather burn down the castle, to protect the moat. Why do we need them for anything? Republican states are good for nothing!
The GOP is not trying to shut down the govt as a matter of control. How is it that America is missing the big picture? Currently, about 1/2 of all govt spending goes towards entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. That worked fine back in the 1960's when these programs were young and there were many more people paying into the program than there were receiving from it. Things have changed now; lifetime expectancies and quality of life has gone up. America cannot afford to continue doling out money to people. I am 24 years old. I am almost certain that even though I pay taxes towards Social Security - when it's my time, in about 40 or so years - there will be nothing left in the pot. Is that what you want for your children? Its about time American begin to make their own sound financial decisions. If you cannot afford to pay for both your flat screen TV AND health insurance, then maybe you shouldn't buy the TV. If you cannot afford the 20 inch rims on your Toyota DONT BUY THEM. Put the money in savings instead. Or towards your child's education. Or in your 401(k). Our spending, as a nation, has gotten out of control.
OK, what's the Republican plan to balance the budget while cutting taxes.
They said they could do it during the campaign.
They have control of the House of Representatives.
All budgetary legislation originates in the House.
YOU all who voted these criminals in office, should pay for this. HOW short our memories of how we got into this mess! These REPRESENTATIVES regardless of the party work for us, we pay them and we should control their pay...WE should VOTE on their pay! NOT them to us! WAKE UP!
Add to it that they do not have access to their health care while the government is shut down, and you've got a winning proposal...
Now there is a plan I really like and I have said it before. They want to play games then let them pay the price.
US Navy Disabled Veteran - Retired
Now there is a plan I really like and I have said it before. They want to play games then let them pay the price.
Yes, Navy
Let them now walk the walk, talk the talk, and enjoy not chewing the fat (pun intended).
If the repugs can do that, maybe they will stop dishing the dirt on middle and poor classes.
The FR post is written as though a government shutdown is a foregone conclusion. FR is probably right: Looks like we are headed for a government shutdown.
Please Insult Me!
If the repugs can do that, maybe they will stop dishing the dirt on middle and poor classes
and maybe the Democrats will learn what the word "budget" means.
Listen up:
We always knew how to. That's why we expose the Repubs' phony math every time.
GOP Rep. Flake Admits His Party Is Using 'Funny Math' When Claiming To Cut $100 Billion
http://thinkprogress.org/2011/02/18/jeff-flake-funny-math/
Bush's Fuzzy Math
http://www.correctopinions.com/fuzzymath.htm
BUDGET BONEHEADS
Bush left out spending for the Iraqi war,
Cheney himself was quoted by the former treasury secretary as saying "Reagan proved that deficits don't matter."
Nice history rewrite PIM. So Reagan, H.W. Bush and G.W.Bush are shining examples of fiscal conservatives? Hardly. PIM what say you? Yes the borrow and spend Republicans. The GOP has blocked all attempts to restore the taxes to pre GW levels. Dems maybe tax and spend but all the GOP does is talk a good game. The GOP we say one thing and then do another.
I also think that for every other week that congress is not in Washington DC doing their jobs, then that is a week that they should not get paid. For every week when congress and cry-baby should be finding ways to create jobs for the people instead of being puppets the rich then that is a week that they do not get paid. When money comes out of their retirement packages and medical packages for the families today, then reducing the deficet should come easy. One more thing, they stole enough money make rent an apartment and help someone else keep a job.
If they were really serious about balancing the budget they would give up their pay all together.They all are mostly millionaires anyway.Get a little taste of what the middle class is going through.If they are willing to do that then i would know they were serious about the deficit;otherwise, its just propaganda.
No pay for Congress during the coming shutdown sounds good. How about no Healthcare if they repeal HCR? How about no Social Security for their relatives if it becomes privatized? How about a law that requires Republicans can't use any service or product that is produced by union workers?
The circus continues with Democrats......
The majority of Congress is RICH you jackazzez.
Moran needs to Shut Up. Everytime he opens his mouth he spits out boot heels.
The circus is the GOPTP elephants running around in the House chamber looking for peanuts for themselves but not willing to share.
Jody, Iowa
The circus is the GOPTP elephants running around in the House chamber looking for peanuts for themselves but not willing to share.
And when elephants run people get trampled. Watch out for the ruthlessly, aggressive, GOP/TEABAGGER predators.
The Koch Brother tea baggers are being bussed in to Wisconsin counter protest the unions.
Let’s kept the environment in balance. If the elphants want to plunder on their stumps let them do so on Animal Planet
ITM -
You're right - the majority of the members of Congress could probably afford to miss a few weeks pay more than I could, and I doubt any of them will really be forced to eat PB&J's, so this is pretty much a symbolic gesture. It's also a very smart one, especially in terms of public opinion - a pre-emptive strike on claiming the high ground. And like it or not, that PB&J line is just the sort of thing that gets a lot of coverage in the media. People will eat it up - pun fully intended.
Hey, Chris Coons is the guy who soundly defeated Christine O'Donnell a couple months back - can anyone seriously envision HER proposing a move like this?
Well no. The only move I can envision her doing is malfeasance of campaign funds. Just imagine what she would have done as a sitting Senator.
Oh heck no JoAnne that girl was only campaigning for rent money to begin with lol.
Hmmm Should the Democrats that left Wisconsin who are not doing their job. Not get paid......
The Wisconsin State Government is not shut down.
The Senate is Jody.. Because the Democrat Senators are not there to Vote...............
Steve,
While I don't live in WI, I would think that most Americans think these wimpy cowardly senators shouldn't get paid. I don't know any of the rules they follow but I have to assume there are consequences for their actions. I guess we'll find out in the near future.
Can you imagine being one of these folks that will forever have an asterisk by their name saying you skipped town so as to not make a vote. What a bunch of losers.
I wonder if the teachers are getting paid to riot in Madison?
And if they miss a riot day, will there be a make-up riot day, probably at end of the school year? You know, kind of like they do for a snow day.
There's a big difference, Steve, in shutting down the entire Government of Wisconsin and just the Senate, the rest of the state is running on all cylinders. All those GOP senators and Gov Walker have to agree to do is sit down at the table and talk, negotiate.
Why is it right-wing posters refer to peaceful, democratic demonstrations of citizens demanding their voices be heard and doing so without violence as "riots"? Guess all those Tea Party protests were riots, too. It seems to me that the World According to the GOPTP is this: when it is liberals on the march, liberals protesting for their rights--there is something unpatriotic, unAmerican but if a bunch of people can staple tea bags to their hates protesting nonexistent death panels and nonexistent tax increases, they're doing their civic duty.
As for the 14 democrats, they are not wimps. They are standing with the public workers of Wisconsin; last time I checked, whether public or private--every citizen is represented. Bravo to the Democrats for having the backbone to stand up to those who want to trample the rights of people.
Really JAS1? Rioting? No one is rioting. Even when the Tea Party marched up and down the streets of Washington and across the country with their racist signs and spewing their anti government diatribes and personal attacks on Obama I didn't say Tea Partiers were rioting. I agree with Jody. Why are you lying about the public workers?
They have the right to be there. Remember the 1st amendment?
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Jody,
I will be first in line to say that I don't know what goes on at state capitals. But, if I were a Project Engineer (on a job) and had a important meeting with all leaders and I knew some didn't like this or that about the project... I would still expect them to show up and vote for or against and/or justify their reasons.
No one is allowed to just not show up. You can't honestly say they are doing the right thing. All they had to do is show up and display some courage.
I've made the comment before that one of the great things that unions do is make themselves look bad - and they are doing a bang up job in WI.
Well when it comes to the Tea Party yes, but not when it comes to Unionized labor and liberals exercising their rights no.
What's next JoAnna? Fire hoses and attack dogs?
Krell, we're not talking about a business meeting. I understand what you are saying but these democratic state senators are doing whatever it takes to represent their citizens. All they are asking is for republicans to talk, to discuss, to negotiate, to sit at the table but they have refused to do this. The public workers are objecting to the law that removes their rights to bargain collectively, they are not asking for more money or more benefits. The GOP refuses to discuss it, Governor Walker refuses to discuss it. Friday, Feb 11, Governor Walker announced this plan--he wanted the State legislature to do it this week, no talks, no discussing, no compromise--just do what he asked. I would agree with you on principle except for this: The Wisconsin GOP controlled legislature passed sweeping tax cuts for big business and the high income earners creating this budget shortfall. Now the Governor wants to make up for those lost revenues by punishing middle income public workers.
I stand by my comment and applaud the 14 democrats willing to demand the voices of the workers be heard, for demanding that the GOP come to the table to talk.
When the going gets tough, the Dems get going
You're right they'll always have an asterisk beside their name proclaiming that they went the extra mile to let their constituent's voice be heard. If you think for a minute that history will do anything but look kindly on their efforts you're sadly misinformed. Pick up a history book sometime, and tell me how conservatives during every moment of crisis in the US have fared? Here's a hint: Its not good.
rcon,
It's all a matter of perspective - right? Take Bill Clinton, he will always, always have an asterisk by his name and it will read something like:
Bill Clinton * (Monica Lewinsky). If you're ok with that, fine.
Anyway, as I said earlier I don't know the rules. Couldn't the senators have just showed up and voted no? All this incident does is make the senators and union look bad.
So Jody, you're saying that those 14 Senator did the right thing? You know damn well if those were Republicans you would be screaming. Either way, they ran away from their duty to serve the people of Wisconsin. Those Senators don't represent the Unions, they work for the people. You fail to understand that these people both Republicans and Democrats work for the PEOPLE, not the unions. Now that Obama got involved, I would almost bet this will make him a one term President.
I'm glad I work in a Right to Work State.......................
Excellent, democrats--why should they get paid for shutting down government. As suggested by Ursula and Peter, no health care and add no congressional pay for the one week vacation after every two week's work.
yes! yes! yes! We should definitely prepare for a shut down of government by the Republicans in the Spring. They seem to be repeating the same actions they took the last time they had a majority: shutting down government, interferring in personal medical decisions, and not getting anything done that would lead to creating jobs!
I think that since the House in the US Congress is working such abbreviated hours, they should start receiving abbreviated salary & benefits. And the GOP in the first 2 years of O's administration, for all their obstructionism, should give back at least half of their salary and benefits, too.
If the House defunds HCR, their health care should be defunded as well!
Indie, How much should the obstructionist democrats in Wisconsin give back for their little trip to an indoor water park?
They shouldn't let them sleep in their offices, either. Who pays the bills for that?
I hadn't read all the way down before I commented above! AGREE100%!
Enough with the frat house - if they can't scrape by on $175K a year then they shouldn't run in the first place!
We taxpayers are paying for them to sleep in the Capitol, paying for the water, heat, electricity, light bulbs and the cots they're sleeping on--wonder who washes the sheets and pillow cases?
"if they can't scrape by on $175K a year then they shouldn't run in the first place!"
You know 175K is Middle Class? Living in DC and having a home where their from becomes costly. I don't know many Middle Class people that can live in D.C. and let's say L.A. on that income.
The New Freshmen make $175,000 Yr. yet the Republicans are trying to deny Public Employees $25,000YR? Congress' pay should be significantly reduced for all the bickering and nonesense and political games they play at the expense of the American Peoples Families who are significantly harmed. Not only should they not be paid during any shutdown, Republicans should be forced to give us a refund for the last 2 years that they sat around doing nothing but saying NO.
Reducing Congress pay isn't a good ideal! While I think during the shutdown they shouldn't get paid, but if you reduce pay for Congress then who could afford to represent you? You'd have only the affluent in Congress. The ones that's not there for the pay but for the power. I actually think that service to your government should be something you sacrifice to do if your that patriotic. Maybe basing pay on means tests, or at least location allowances should be reduced.
Now if those who are living in their offices get a COLA (cost of living allowance) they should face some kind of censure because its just wrong to receive COLA and live in govt quarters. Remember COLA is non-taxable additional income.
ucg
You would be wrong on your COLA statement. COLA is just that, cost of living allowance, not housing allowance. If they receive a housing allowance than you would be right, but they don't.
Social Security Administration warns staff of potential (Shutdown) furloughs
The Social Security Administration has sent a letter to employees, warning them of potential furloughs should the House Republicans proposed budget in this year's continuing resolution pass.
A top Social Security Administration official warned workers they may have to take furloughs if cuts proposed by House Republicans take effect.
Associate Commissioner Jay Clary, who oversees labor management at the agency, wrote to a federal workers’ union Thursday, alerting the union to start negotiating furlough terms because of the House’s proposal to slash funds by $125 million.
“Given the potential of reduced congressional appropriations for the remainder of the fiscal year, the agency is issuing this notice at this time in the event that a furlough may become necessary,” Clary wrote in the letter to the American Federation of Government Employees. The union represents at least 48,000 of the agency’s 70,000 employees.
The GOP budget would allocate $10.7 billion for 2011, while President Barack Obama’s 2012 budget asks for $12.5 billion for the agency, which dispenses checks to 53 million people each month.
That's a more an 9 percent budget cut for the SSA, and would result in very real impacts for Social Security beneficiaries and new enrollees:
SSA is already operating under a partial hiring freeze because of the current continuing resolution, which is likely to result in nearly 3,500 lost jobs for 2011.
According to SSA, the additional cuts made by the Republican continuing resolution (the equivalent of four weeks of furloughs) would leave SSA so short staffed that it could result in the following:
Democrats on the House Ways and Means committee have been sounding the alarm on the potential damage to the SSA since the GOP proposal was released. Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member Xavier Becerra points out that “threats of a Social Security shutdown are real.
With $1.7 billion in reckless and shortsighted cuts being proposed for the Social Security Administration’s operating budget, employees are now being prepared for a furlough."
“The consequences of this Republican budget cut would be felt by seniors and people with disabilities throughout the country,” said Ways and Means Ranking Member Sander Levin.
“There are few budget cuts more irresponsible than those that fall on the backs of our seniors and people with disabilities, yet that’s exactly who this Republican proposal would end up hurting.”
It's hard to say, but likely, that there's a political motive behind these proposed cuts to this program in particular—
undermining Social Security by all means at their disposable has been priority one in the GOP playbook for decades.
If they can further that cause by hamstringing the SSA in fulfilling its mission, that's what they'll do. No matter who it hurts.
Excellent post, June. What's sad is most republican legislators simply do not care who is hurt.
June, thanks for the informative post. Your post reminds us that this is not just about numbers on a spread sheet. It is sad that the GOP refuses to see that their cuts will hurt real people, not only the gov. workers but the recipients as well.
Can we impeach John, drinks urine for breakfast, Boehner?
As a member of the UAW (United Auto Workers) for over 22 years whenever we had to strike , all Union officers from the shop-level to the International President received only basic strike benefits like everyone else until it was settled. That's democracy in action-so if they shut down the government they should also shut down their pay. I would vote for that in a New York minute.
Strike benefits? nice...................hey let me ask you a question, what did you guys do on Friday at the plant? Just wondering if my Uncle was BSing me when he worked for GM.
Republican temper tantrums and posturing to satisfy the "Tea Party" will cost them in 2012.
Shutting down the government will hurt seniors, disabled and veterans as well- millions are Republican and Independent voters and will not forget the hardship this abusive and infantile display will cause.
This is really a loser strategy. Republicans may want to rethink this as voting Americans are losing their appetite for self-serving, impotent and destructive tactics.
Really show me a poor politicians, whats a couple of weeks, a month or more...Dont worry the effects that ordinary Americans would feel, they wont.....
The GOTP wants to play "High Stakes Texas Holdem" by shutting down the Government. Dems should up the ante and state that NOBODY, AND I MEAN NOBODY, gets paid!!!!
Overall, I am happy with my health insurance I found through wise health insurance network. It is not perfect, but in today's world what is? The health insurance plan has worked quite well for me and my family.
Nikki to make a statement that you have this wonderful Health Insurance that you found good for you. Unless you have been living under a rock you know that Millions of Americans are Sick, some dying that have Pre-Existing Conditions and cannot get Health Insurance from any company. Hundreds of thousands are thrown off/terminated from their Health Insurance Plans that they have had for years because of Pre-Existing Conditions. Folk are dying look at Arizona that nee transplants and have been denied coverage.
FOr you to pretend that Uninsured Americans can "Easily" get Health Insurance in this country is just false advertising.
What's your point? Are you really not aware of the Health Insurance Catastrophic Condision that exist in this country
Just thank God that your family was healthy enough to get decent Health Insurance, however, don't pretend you are not aware of the State Of that 44,000 Americans dying each year because they cannot get health insurance, those hundreds of thousands that have lost their homes because of health conditons that Insurance Companies failed to pay for.
Just count yourself among the Blessed & Highly Favored
While they are out and the government is shut down, do you think the Repubs might go to their masters (aka Corporate America) and ask them to start hiring? So far, the Repubs have done absolutely nothing for the working class. It might improve their image but even that is doubtful.
Oh yes! Love it! No work...no pay! That should get them moving! And if they are shutting down the government, they need to close the offices (save on heating and electricity) so those living in their offices will have to more to a hotel (thus positively impacting the economy!).