Sen. Manchin introduces bill to withhold Congress pay in event of government shutdown

WASHINGTON, DC (WOWK) – West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin introduced legislation today that would withhold pay from members of Congress if they are unable to prevent a government shutdown.According to a release, the No Government No Pay Act of 2018 would take effect during the 116th Congress and would be applied to each new Congress going forward.

“In West Virginia, we know that when you don’t do your job, you don’t get paid. If Congress can’t come together to fulfill one of our most basic constitutional obligations, then we don’t deserve to get paid either,” Senator Manchin said.

The bill was cosponsored by Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Jon Tester (D-MT) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).

Manchin introduced similar legislation before the potential government shutdown in 2015.

Five Democratic senators from states won by President Trump in the 2016 presidential election introduced legislation Friday to withhold pay from members of Congress in the event of a government shutdown.

Sens. Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.), Claire McCaskill (Mo.), Jon Tester (Mont.), Debbie Stabenow (Mich.) and Joe Manchin (W.Va.), all of whom are up for reelection this year, announced the bill Friday, hours ahead of a government funding deadline.

“If members of Congress can’t fulfill their basic duty to keep the government open and provide the essential services Americans depend on, then they don’t deserve their paychecks,” Heitkamp said in a statement. “Period.” Stabenow echoed Heitkamp’s remarks in the statement and vowed to donate her salary in the event of a shutdown even if the bill doesn’t pass.

“It’s wrong that members of Congress would still get paid in the event of a shutdown while paychecks for members of our military could be disrupted,” Stabenow said. “This bill ensures members of Congress will not get paid and another bill I have cosponsored makes sure our troops will.”

Democratic Reps. Sean Patrick Maloney (N.Y.) and Stephanie Murphy (Fla.) also vowed Friday to forgo their pay if the government shuts down.

I'm a proud cosponsor of the No Budget, No Pay Act, which would withhold pay for members of Congress during a shutdown. pic.twitter.com/9ey4lRQ7az

— Sean Patrick Maloney (@RepSeanMaloney) January 23, 2018

@RepStephMurphy

 Members of Congress shouldn’t collect a salary while thousands of government employees are furloughed without pay. I’ll return my salary for every day the government is shut down because it’s the right thing to do.

The announcement comes as Congress barrels towards the first government shutdown since 2013.

House Republicans passed a short-term government spending bill Thursday, but Senate Democrats have vowed to block the bill when it comes up for a vote.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) met with President Trump at the White House Friday but left the meeting without a deal to avert a shutdown, saying there are still a “good number of disagreements” with Trump on immigration and spending.The Senate is expected to take a vote on the House-passed spending bill Friday evening, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY.) is expected to fall short of the 60 votes necessary.