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Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) earlier this month before a vote on the spending bill. The Senate, led by Boxer, has unanimously passed a stand-alone bill to prohibit members of Congress from getting a paycheck in the event of a shutdown.
From NBC's Luke Russert and Carrie Dann
With the threat of a government shutdown again rumbling on the horizon, federal workers may be looking nervously at their bank accounts.
But what about members of Congress?
The Senate, led by Democratic sponsor Sen. Barbara Boxer of California, has already unanimously passed a stand-alone bill to prohibit members of Congress from getting a paycheck in the event of a shutdown.
But that bill won’t become law unless it is passed independently by the House.
Today the House GOP said that their soon-to-be-approved budget bill (dubbed the "Prevention of Government Shutdown Act") would include the same language to eliminate paychecks for members of Congress during a shutdown.
But that budget bill – which has already been rejected by the Senate once – has virtually no chance of passing the upper chamber, meaning that the language about members' salaries will still not become law.
What’s more, GOP leaders refuse to bring the “clean” – or unattached – Senate-passed salary language up for a vote on the House floor.
(Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., introduced legislation akin to Boxer's in the House in February.)
Why?
There are a variety of reasons, but one that is mentioned constantly is that many newer members of Congress quit their jobs to run for office.
Quite frankly, they say they need the money.
As freshman Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI) told constituents last week: "I guarantee most of you, I have more debt than all of you. With six kids, I still pay off my student loans. I still pay my mortgage. I drive a used minivan. If you think I'm living high off the hog, I've got one paycheck. So I struggle to meet my bills right now."
Financial disclosure data show that, generally, members of the Senate have much deeper pockets than their House colleagues. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the median estimated net worth of a member of the United States House in 2009 was about $732,000. Compare that to the median net worth for a United States senator for the same year: A bit more than $2.4 million.
Members of Congress who do not hold leadership roles make an annual salary of $174,000.
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Wanting to continued to get paid for doing nothing?
I guess Congressmen have more in common than some union workers than they thought.
Those criminal SOB's don't seem to have a dam ned problem with slashing social security, medicare, or other social benefits. They don't seem to give one red dam ned cent about raping the unions but, by God, we better not lay one finger on THEIR rice bowl...
Is THAT what they are saying? Bohner-Boy is gonna have to cry a LOT to get folks to forget about THIS obscenity. Americans should be outraged. OUTRAGED!!!
Were I not a gentle man, I'd express myself a bit more forcefully. That doesn't mean that I am not seething, however. Those Repiglican hypocrites have one helluva lot of 'splaining to do, seems to me.
Politician thieves always plan to jump ship with a golden parachute ... even if it is temporary.
Like we're really supposed to care about Duff missing 1 or 2 pay checks. Cry me a frigging river and no one twisted your arm to run for public office. The politicians should go without paychecks for as long as the 13 million citizens are going without paychecks as well.
Anyone else find it ironic Duffy is from Wisconsin? Ring any bells?
Dear voters of Wisconsin: Please stop electing morons as your state and federal representatives. If you promise not to elect any more idiots, the rest of the US will do the same.
So, we can't give food stamps to people who strike. We can't extend unemployment. But, you make $174,000 a year and can't afford a few weeks without a paycheck and I'm supposed to cry for you? You're nuts! If you're not making enough money, why the heck did you have six kids? Sorry, no sympathy from me on this. If you're not going to pay the rest of the government workers, you shouldn't get paid either. After all, by not passing a budget bill, you haven't been doing your job any way.
So they decided to take a "Newt" huh, I say no pay, no healthcare benefits, nada! But you can bet John of Orange will be sippin martinis and hittin the old golf course, oh wait he does that daily anyway. Boy that Tan man can lead can't he. The Baggers are happy now wait until those good old whities who decided to become a bagger don't get the SS checks, you'll hear bitchen then!
Cry me a fricken river, my husband is in federal law enforcement, puts his life on the line for this country every time he leaves for his job and this is the best they can come up with, they quit their jobs so they have no money. Neither will we if these idiots in DC can't get their jobs done. They expect our military and Border Patrol agents to protect our country for no pay?????? These congressmen chose to quit their jobs and lose that paycheck, the federal workers aren't chosing for the government to shut down, and I am pretty sure all those in the private sector who have lost their jobs, darn sure didn't choose to lose their jobs. This is the best these brats in DC can come up with? Give me a break. I cannot believe that we voted these idiots into office, any of them.
And your husband will be in his riot gear protecting these elitists when the manure hits the fan. Are you aware of that?
Yes, I am very aware of that. He unlike Congress knows what his job is and understands he may be called upon to do things that he doesn't want to do.
Wal-Mart is hiring.
Anything, just so long as they don't try and file for unemployment benefits.
Oh and I forgot, hey Duffy! I'm in my sixties with no healthcare, no retirment (loss to WS), and soon no house, I make $15.00 an hour, so you can bite me!
90% of Americans wish they had a second home they could liquidate at this time. But of course Duffy probably doesn't want to have to liquidate it at this time due to the market conditions, lol.
On top of the $174K a year, Congress members receive per Diem costs, credit cards, cell phones, laptops, paid housing in DC, cars, air travel, train travel, bus travel, unlimited expense accounts, paid vacations to anywhere in the world, health care for the whole family forever and a full ride pension plan even if they only serve one term. Not a bad deal when you think about it.
I won't defend the salary, it is excessive for the actual work they do. However, I would request that you support your statement with some facts. Let's start with "paid housing in DC", "train travel", "unlimited expense accounts". Care to prove any of that?
It actually comes our of their Congressional budget, so they DO have to pay for this. Of course, their Congressional budget consists of money they "picked up" from various lobbyists from BIG BUSINESS!! Kinda like living with mom, you know? Besides, isn't he the one that sleeps in his office to save money?
I love that those who receive an average salary of $174,000 still can't pay the bills. What about those employees who do not make anywhere near that much are are living from paycheck to paycheck? Are we any less important than a senator? If we government employees have to do without, it is only fair that the House and Senate should do the same. This should have applied to the health care reform bill as well. As for the senator who has six kids and can't live without his paycheck because of the one job per the family, we will tell you what you tell us, we hate the situation for you but, OH WELL, JUST LEARN TO DEAL WITH IT! Isn't this the House and Senate's answer? If one person in the Senate is against this because of his paycheck, then how many others who are middle to lower class, a lot more than this one man. America, get with the program, when it comes to something of this nature, either all or none.
This guy just chaps my butt, he is whining he quit his job to run for Congress, funny thing is in the event of a shut-down federal employee are being FORCED to furlough, this butthole chose to run for office, if federal employees don't get paid then neither should the President, V President and Congress, after all they are federal employees to, paid by the tax payers money.
Right there is a change right there.you dont work you dont get paid,you close down.why should get paid for doing nothing.you work for us.we dont work for you .right.its got to get back to that way.and not yours any longer.d.c. changes are coming.
Are you kidding me? Is this Rep. Duffy making these posts? So you think that is it okay for me, who makes no where near $174k and I mean not even close to those amount, to stop getting a paycheck, while these people keep getting paid for doing half the work I do? Really? How does this even make sense to you? and guess what- I have the same education level, the same student loans, the same debts- but I serve my country because I believe in it. Not because I want to cry about a used minivan, or my mortgage, or anything else. To serve the government is a choice. It is not an easy one as I know that I would make more money and have less stress about having a shutdown if I worked in the private sector but as I said, this is a choice. Rep. Duffy made the same choice I did- now deal with it or give your office to someone who doesn't cry about making $174k for further bankrupting our country and taking paid holidays.
Why do you think that Congress believes the American people are so clueless when it comes to government and the political party system?
Is there anyone on the blog that feels this entire government shutdown threat is plain BS, and a smoke screen designed to fool the American people from what is really going on?
How long do you feel we can put up with this crap from Congress? When will we finally say enough is enough, show up at the ballot box, and vote these money grubbing Congress people out of office? Do you really think they are in this for us? Are we really that lazy or uninterested in making this our America again, and not just be led around like some animal, being grateful for the crumbs each party gives us?
Why are we paying them again? They are ALL mostly millionaires anyway.
I've read almost every post on this page and not one agrees with how this is being ran. I'm willing to bet that most Americans don't agree with this at all. If we don't like that it is happening, than why is it happening?? Why would anyone in their right mind defend this logic. It's irrational, selfish, and unamerican. I think the whole damn rule book needs to be rewritten, because the public doesn't own the government anymore and they're just doing whatever they want now.
This makes me sick. I'm in the military, and they are talking about not paying me/us while the Government is shut-down. Of course, they are saying they will back-pay the military...when? And now, I'm supposed to feel sorry for the freshman Congressman/Congresswoman, that is supposed to make $170K this year? Not feeling it! What about the men and women that are deployed who are counting on the steady paycheck to keep their families safe and supportive here back home?
So Congressman Duffy said he wants to keep his paycheck....ok and your point. He is just like every American they want to get a pay check. But I dont believe anywhere he ever said he wanted to be the only one getting a paycheck. He knows that a govenment shutdown will hurt a lot of people and god forbid a compremise will be made so this wont happen. The media really is the one causing the trouble and causing the feeling of us against the government. Most dont point out that Duffy made comments at a meeting getting input from his constituents and doing his job and listening to the people. And when asked how much he makes he tried to avoid question but in the end was honest with the people and told them. But was also honest when he said that he is in debt. He was not a rich man when he ran for office...heck he quit his job as an assitent DA to run because he felt it was his duty. Its funny how when a person is just being honest when he says something they can be put down. Lets all just remember both parties agree on one thing.....we need to make cuts to spending. Just a question of how much. All this fighting is doing nothing but causing more fighting and more negative feelings.
Our poor congressional delegation cannot live on a paycheck of $174K? How many more Americans would not have a job if they reported to work and didn't get the job done? Come on. Congress is the only "company" to pay their employees for NOT doing their job. What about those Americans who have lost their jobs as the Congressional "Company" has allowed tax breaks for American jobs to be moved to India, China, and Viet Nam? These Americans are trying to raise their kids, pay off their loans, and are doing it with NO money when their unemployment benefits run out.
I am a federal employee and feel very fortunate to even have a job. I make substantially less that 174K, am raising 5 kids and still paying off student loans. Even with my spouse working full time we make less than 174K a year. I feel really sorry for Freshman Rep. Duffy. Maybe Mr. Duffy needs to sell that used minivan, sell his house and move into a smaller facility, and do without a lot of the "necessities" of life such as a cell phone, internet services, and cable TV. Then he might be able to understand where almost approximately 10% of Americans without a job are coming from.
So lets get this strait, The rich pampered babies in Congress will get their pay checks but the hard working men and women in the US military wont? Thats right there has been no provision to ensure that military members will get there checks. Shows you what this country stands for.
Did he say he earns $174K...wow....I would like to "earn" that small amount once before I die... :-)
Sean Duffy better start to realize that he is a public servant, it's not supposed to be all about the money.
Please call or fax Mr. Duffy and let him know how you feel. I know I did. I recommended that Mr. Duffy look into a vasectomy if he can't afford more kids.
Phone: (202) 225-3365 or (855) 585-4251 (toll-free)
Fax: (202) 225-3240