The Senate unanimously approved a resolution to withhold senators' pay during government shutdowns.
The measure, sponsored by Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), will take effect the day after the Nov. 3 general election and does not apply to the House.
Key Details
- Pay Withholding: Senators' pay would be withheld by the secretary of the Senate whenever a government shutdown affects one or more agencies.
- Restoration: Pay would be released once funding is restored.
- Salary: Senators earn an annual salary of $174,000.
Background
The resolution follows a period of frequent and lengthy government shutdowns. In the past year, the Department of Homeland Security experienced a 76-day partial shutdown, and earlier there was a 43-day full government shutdown. During these closures, federal workers went without pay, while members of Congress continued to receive salaries as stipulated by the Constitution.
Statements
"Shutting down government should not be our default solution to our refusal to work out our issues and our differences." — Sen. John Kennedy
Kennedy added that the measure ensures "shared sacrifice" during shutdowns.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) had previously proposed a constitutional amendment to require members to forfeit pay during shutdowns, but that process would require ratification by three-fourths of states.
Regarding the exclusion of the House, Kennedy noted: "The House's business is the House's business," and mentioned "a very strong undercurrent of animosity among some of my friends in the House."