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AP
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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If, like many of us, you find yourself not working for a period of time, you should apply for unemployment benefits. I'm aware that the maximum weekly benefit here in California at $450 per week, is somewhat less than the $3,300 a week you are collecting now, but being out of work is not easy for anyone. Guess you'll have to find a way to live on it until you are working again.
Times are tuff, sorry to hear they can't afford to go without pay like the rest of us government employees that are considered essential and must work without pay during the shutdown. Or the non-essential that have to wait 2 weeks before they can even sign up for unemployment. I was forced to retire in 1999 from the Navy Reserves after 28 years service. I will be eligible for a paycheck for this 28 yrs service in November 2012 at age 60. I served 9.5 years active duty during VetNam, Panamal Canal conflect, Granada, and last during Desert Storm/Shield. My civilian employer of 25 years eliminated my job as a reward for all my military service. I worked odd jobs until 3 years ago when I landed a job working for the VA hospital. I spent 5 years trying to get care from the VA but was consistently denied because I made more than 200% of the proverty level. That is why I decided to go to work there. At least now I am getting some benifit from the government for all the service I gave. My point is if you are not poor, disabled or outright lie and get a lawyer involved the government will not help you. It helps millions of undeserving people that learn very quick how to work the system to get unearned benefits like disability SSI, medicaid,wick, and many more. The system is geared for failure and bankruptsy with millions of illegals coming in everyday or being born here. Add to that the other million dishonest people that figure out how to work the system and you get a double whammy. Then we have these corporations like GE making billions in profits and paying no taxes. I say bring on a flat tax rate with no deductions. Let us put it up for a national vote in 2012 at the same time we vote some nonperforming senators and other elected officials out of office. Let us take back our country!!
James M. Williams -
You make more than 200% above the poverty level? Count your blessings! Thank you for your military service to our country - like all those who came before and after you. Many of those Vets are not near as fortunate to bring in the amount of income that you do!
I worked for 30+ years, paid all my taxes, vounteered extensively and ended up with a position as a successful career professional - earning an above average income with every imaginable medical, vision, dental benefits paid by my employer. I was seriously injured in an accident at work and drew all of my medical and wage and insurance benefits without dispute - returning to work in approximately a year - after major surgery, near death experience, complications and months of physical therapy. I moved from Michigan to another state for a far better job offer. When it became necessary to access my open Worker's Comp Claim benefits my employer, being "self-insured" for his WC claims, "LOST" any record of even my claim number!
The State of Michigan WC Department DOES have all the records and I fought every way possible for the better part of 18 years to get them to force Art Van Furniture to continue paying my benefits. By 1994 I was classified as Totally and Permanently Disabled under Social Security Statutes. These records clearly define the cause of my disability as the accident at work in '91!! In '97 a US Senator fought for my Worker's Comp benefits and was told by the then head of HHR that it would be cheaper to simply put me on Medicare - "she can take it or leave it"! By 1999 I had still managed to protect my investment protfolio and keep up with the ongoing medical bills with the assist from my fraudulent Medicare coverage. By '06 I had lost everything and could not longer keep up with medical expense!
In 2008, just prior to the creation of the new govt HEAT, Medicare Fraud Unit - I turned my employer in for "Medicare Fraud", due to fact that his failure to pay my WC benefits resulted in me receiving govt benefits. Medicare found employer guilty of "MEDICARE FRAUD" - sent him two threatening letters, which he simply ignored AND advised me that it would be cheaper to simply continue to pay my Medicare benefits that protect and enforce my RIGHTS!!! They added the fact that they were closing my file!
NOW.....I am on Medicare and Medicaid, have a Medicaid supplied In-Home aide and every other govt assistance program and my income is STILL below the poverty level! I can not afford the additional "three major surgies" I have needed since '06, nor any of the medical tests, nor routine medical tests like mamograms and such, nor ALL of the eleven prescription medications that I am "susposed" to be taking daily!! A year ago I was diagnosed with dangerously high blood pressure and to date none of the meds tried so far are working to bring it back within "safe" levels!!
Two months ago I received an invoice from a medical facility for a "scan" that was denied by Medicare due to fact that......."there is an OPEN WORKER'S COMPENSATION CLAIM that covers her medical treatment"!!!!
I have hired attornies - they quit due to their expense from "Red Tape" - Senators, Attorney Generals in two states, the governor's office, my Senators, two major news networks and two Denver major networks and NO ONE is interested in the case of this one individual.....even regarding a Judgment of Medicare Fraud Guilt!!!
You folks want to gripe about all "US" poor, uneducated, lazy, money grabbing people using up all of YOUR money? Wake the h... up and put the blame where it really goes - on our grossly flawed govt. and the elected officials who refuse to act on behalf of or "serve" our citizens!!
I paid far more than my share during my working life and it is not my fault that I am no longer able to work or do much of anything else due to my work injury and years of denial of appropriate medical treatment for those injuries! I am sick of all this bitter bickering from people who do not have a clue what they are talking about and being treated like trash! Recently, I filled out a DNR Order simply because, since I have not been able to afford appropriate medical care for a decade or so and live in daily, constant pain and fatigue and grossly limited as to what I can do - SURELY, I could not afford the expense of any "life saving" emergency procedures!! Furthermore, it is highly unlikely that I would survive any such attempts without at the very least, multiple strokes!! I'm sincerely hoping for a sudden and massive heart attack and the sooner the better!!
Any of you uninformed individuals who honestly believe that THIS could never happen to you.......WAKE UP!! I went from being a secure upper, middle-income person who lived an extremely active, healthy and happy life - with everything in life to look forward to...........to where I am today and it started the instant that 128 pound cocktail table was dropped into my abdomine at work in 1991!!!
Some folks just may decide to be a bit more thoughtful before making such viscious, degrading, disgusting, de-humanizing and disrespectful posts about such a HUGE percentage of our population! One day.........any one of you could become one of "US"!!!
One more thing...........IF there is a govt. shut down I WILL be one of those who also goes without any of my govt benefits as well!
I say.......SHUT IT DOWN - that's what the TeaPublicans want - grant them their wish. NO elected officials should receive their tax payer paid wages or benefits either....but they will!
Yell at the Congress to close all the "Loop Holes" in our laws that allow the wealthy corporations and business owners to take gross advantage of our citizens!! My employer is the largest, independant retail business owner in the United States - owning 16 high end furniture stores in the state of Michigan!! He even donated a million dollars to a local hospital for cancer research - but refuses to pay for the injuries that his employees suffer while working for him. He is retired and two of his sons are running the business now.......or so I read on Google and such!
His actions, and those of how many other wealthy business owners, are possible due to the Loop Holes in our Laws. It is well past time to force our Congress to start doing their JOBS!
More people like me should speak up........but, who can blame them for keeping their mouths shut? Look what most of you folks are saying about them/us already. Look how far it has gotten me!! Do any of you honestly think that anyone is going to care........or do anything.
Bet I know someone who will take action............my employer for defamation of character or some such crap - lol. Or, perhaps Medicare will end up denying ALL of my medical claims due to the Open WC benefits and simply leave me to suffer a slow, miserable and un-imaginablely painful death with NO medical care whatsoever!!
I am so very, very sick of all this hateful BS!! My heart goes out to all the others - even worse off than me who are treated the same and have to read this crap or hear it on the media!!! Every one should be ashamed for not helping those that can not help themselves.....due to no fault on their part!!!
A little off topic, but perhaps one of these highly paid Washington puppets can answer the following question:
How come I, as a taxpayer, cannot receive the same health insurance plan that I provide for you? The plan I pay for you, entitles you to medical care I can only dream about. But apparently my wizards in Washington feel those of us paying their insurance burden are not entitled to the same medical treatment.
I live on disability and have not received a COLA increase in the past 2 years. Yes, I had a fair amount of money saved for retirement, I planned for it.......but the medical bills turned all my savings into medical receipts and I have medical insurance that I pay for each month. This in turn takes about 13% of my monthly SS disability check.
I guess I am not saddened to hear about the Duffy problem only bothered to hear an elected official cry about his personel financial issues. Sounds like poor planning and this person helps make decisions that control the future of MY Country.
Greetings Everyone! I thought you should be informed if you don't already know on the 4th of April (Monday) we're organizing for the rights of Unions, workers, etc...for more information check this out!
Come and join us! Stand with workers, familys, friends, neighbors, Stand United as One!
I will be at the rally in Warrensburg Missouri so if you need information on that rally just drop me a line on here at my email link.
Love, Peace, and Freedom!
~Brandy
it wouldn't let me post the link but just type aflciodotcom
May congress and the senate burn in HELL
May congress and the senate burn in HELL
You have to be a liberal, pay people for not doing their job. Everyone seems to forget that this budget should have been passed last year-when Dems had control of Congress & Senate-they choose not to do so, was too busy ramming obamacare, cap & tax down our throats.
Im not a conservative and I dont think they should be paying these people for not doing their job. Im all for them not getting paid whether they have student loans or not. My husband won't get paid, and he still has to work. Why should they get paid?
Victoria..............they couldn't pass the budget bills last year because the Senate repubpicans filibustered each and everyone and prevented a vote. A simple majority cannot end a filibuster.
WOW! So one of the reasons behind banning Congress from drawing a paycheck in the event of a shutdown is because THEY need money?
What about the members of our Armed Forces that are risking their lives for our Country? Does Rep. Duffy not realize that... Congress failing to resolve this budget issue and shutting down government is kicking the members of our military in the teeth?
Poor Duffy, a measley $174k a year... Does he realize that the enlisted folks are well below the median income levels already and struggling to provide for the families they have left to protect the Country that is now kicking them in the teeth?
What about the families our soldiers have left behind so the soldier can go defend the US? How can the members of Congress sleep at night knowing that most of these families are living paycheck to paycheck and the loss of ONE check is going to be devastating, and the more checks that are missed, the problem only grows bigger?
So Duffy's quote from 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."
Has a simple answers to that struggle... Birth control goes a long way in preventing the accumulation of six kids, that apparently he can't afford to raise. Hmmm, the struggle... ah, TRIM YOUR EXPENDITURES TO THE BARE MINIMUM! Yes, I can see there are things you can still cut. Don't drive the minivan... WALK. Your mortgage you say? SELL THE SUMMER HOUSE! DOWNSIZE DAY TO DAY LIVING TO A MOBILE HOME. As far as the student loan, it's already 20 years old... hmmm.
I'm positive on $174k a year, I could support myself and at least 3 other families in my neighborhood; and yep, we'd be thinking we were living high on the hog. Seems priorities aren't set right. Congress needs to have the same cuts in funding, furloughs or anything else they impose on the federal workers and the agencies; in fact they (as leaders) should take those loses FIRST.
Very well put. If he can't go without 1 paycheck then he should not have accumulated all that debt. I can't afford a student loan. I can't afford to go to college and certainly can't afford 6 kids. I have one kid with one on the way. BC doesn't always work but believe me, I will take more permanent measures long before I hit 6. I lost my job and we are living on minimum right now. If you cant afford to miss a paycheck or 2 when you're making 174k a year (more than 3x what my family makes) then you are obviously not in the loop with how the rest of the country is living.
If you dont do your job you shouldn't get paid. You also sure as hell shouldn't keep other people who are still doing their job from getting paid.
Well doesn't that just warm my heart.
My husband is serving overseas right now. I have been going back to college for the last three years, and we have a family. We LIVE on his income, small though it is. But, they're right, it's far more important that ineffective politicians continue to get their hundreds of thousands of dollars while they stall and posture and harrumph and name-call at the other side, than it is for my family to continue to be able to EAT. Never-mind, that my husband will still have to continue working, despite our absent paychecks. Never-mind that while he is deployed, he will continue to rack up expenses on his government travel card, which we won't get reimbursed for until someone decides to pay us again. Never-mind that. No, it is far more important to look good to your constituents for the next election. Except...wait...HOW does this look good?
What pitiful little respect I had left for my government has been destroyed.
NONE of the people serving now will have my vote if this does not get remedied IMMEDIATELY.
Boxer's bill stands alone. Republicans won't pass it.
The Republican bill requires that their budget be accepted. Dems won't approve that.
Let the arguing begin which makes us all join one team or another. I've already heard double-talk Reps say "We want that passed (no pay) - Dems don't"
Why not just pass the independent bill? Don't bet on it. This is America.
We pay on student loans, car payments, raising a family- and what? My husband doesn't NEED his paycheck. At least if they don't Like the way things are going they can RESIGN from their position. My husband however is OWNED by the United States and does not have that Freedom.
Oh no, it's ok.. My husband and his brother's in arms will continue to put their lives on the line for the freedom's you enjoy. Doesn't matter that their families will go hungry because your pay is so much more important than his. One month of your pay is more than we make in a year, and we don't NEED the money?
It's sad that they would even consider doing this to military families, like we don't have bills to pay, children to raise or mouths to feed.
I am real tired of our.....well this Government, playing the games and not working for us. It's time to get them all out of office and bring in a new batch that will work for us!!! We see major change starting all over the world, do we have the guts to impeach every one of the self-serving politicians and elect group B????
My husband was in the military for the Army and Navy during the Vietnam war. Since then, he has worked 2 to 3 job in the police field for most of his life. I have worked all of my life and sometimes 2 jobs. It was shocking to find out that only 50% of the people pay taxes. I always though everyone paid taxes. Then I started noticing people driving Lexus and Cadillac cars--with their I-phones -new clothes and gold jewelry using EBT cards for their groceries. I cannot afford this-- but yet I am paying for it?? What is your opinion??