Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) announced Friday that he will introduce legislation to ensure members of Congress share in the pain of the ongoing government shutdown, targeting their paychecks as the standoff continues into its third day.
The measure is titled the Stop Holding Up Taxpayers, Deny Wages On Washington’s Negligence (SHUTDOWN) Act.
It would impose a daily tax on lawmakers’ salaries for every day the government remains shuttered, escalating the financial penalty as the stalemate drags on.
“Democrats like Hakeem Jeffries want to get paid for shutting the government down,” Moreno told Fox News.
“That’s ridiculous. If Congress can’t do the bare minimum, we don’t deserve a paycheck.”
Currently, members of Congress are guaranteed their salaries during a shutdown, unlike federal employees who face furloughs and withheld paychecks.
The Constitution requires compensation for lawmakers, and the 27th Amendment prevents immediate changes to congressional pay.
Moreno’s proposal seeks to sidestep those hurdles by levying a tax rather than directly reducing salaries.
The average lawmaker makes $174,000 annually, with leadership positions earning more.
Moreno’s bill would cut into those salaries daily until Congress resolves its budget impasse.
The Ohio Republican’s effort mirrors a similar push in the House from Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC).
As Slay News reported, Norman reintroduced a constitutional amendment earlier this week to permanently bar lawmakers from collecting pay during shutdowns, with no back pay once the government reopens.
Norman argued that “no one else in America would get paid for failing to fulfill their duties,” and Congress should not be exempt.
The dual efforts in both chambers underscore a growing frustration among conservatives that Democrats are reaping the benefits of taxpayer-funded salaries while blocking GOP attempts to keep the government open.
The shutdown began Wednesday at midnight after Senate Democrats rejected a Republican short-term funding bill that would extend government operations through November 21.
Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), continue to demand the repeal of healthcare provisions in President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cut Act as part of any funding deal.
It’s a position the White House has warned would amount to nearly $200 billion in taxpayer spending on “free” healthcare for illegal aliens.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has pledged to keep bringing the House-passed continuing resolution to the floor.
So far, only three members of the Democrat caucus, Sens. John Fetterman (D-PA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Angus King (I-ME), have sided with Republicans in supporting the measure.
With the standoff unresolved, Moreno’s SHUTDOWN Act adds fresh pressure on members of Congress to feel the consequences of their inaction, in their own wallets.
READ MORE – Pelosi Melts Down When Asked If AOC Is ‘Directing’ Democrat Shutdown
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