No Work Means No Pay for Local Senators
Wheeling Intelligencer – U.S. senators representing Ohio and West Virginia say they won’t accept their congressional pay in the event of a government shutdown.
Non-essential government services are expected to be halted unless Congress irons out the differences in a proposed federal budget by the end of today.
And as the House and Senate work to avoid a government shutdown, Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., has proposed legislation – Senate Bill 724 – that would make certain members of the U.S. military continue to be paid if most government offices close.
“Under no circumstances should our troops or military personnel have any uncertainty about whether they are going to receive a pay check,” Rockefeller said. “In addition to the devastating consequences that a shutdown would have on everyone’s lives, we cannot punish our service members and their families for negotiations that they are not involved in. Just as our troops made a pledge to serve and protect this country, we also made a pledge to do the same for them. We must hold up our end of that bargain.
“Additionally, members of Congress should be required to make the same sacrifices that are being forced on others. In the case of a government shutdown, I intend to do just that, and I encourage other members to do the same.”
