Lawmakers are advocating for a constitutional amendment that would suspend pay for federal legislators during government shutdowns, emphasizing accountability in Congress.
In a move aimed at increasing accountability among federal lawmakers, Representative Ralph Norman, a Republican from South Carolina, has reintroduced a proposal for a constitutional amendment that would dock the pay of Congress members during government shutdowns. Norman announced the initiative on Tuesday, highlighting the disparity between the financial struggles of federal workers and the continued paychecks received by Congress members during such crises.
“During shutdowns, federal workers are told to ‘do more with less.’ Meanwhile, Congress still cashes paychecks. That’s wrong,” Norman stated in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. He emphasized that his proposed amendment would eliminate pay for lawmakers during shutdowns, with no provision for back pay once the government resumes operations.
Norman’s proposal has garnered support from several Republican colleagues, including Representatives Bob Latta of Ohio, Jack Bergman of Michigan, Eli Crane of Arizona, Cory Mills of Florida, Dusty Johnson of South Dakota, and John Joyce of Pennsylvania, who have all signed on as cosponsors.
The text of the proposed amendment reads: “Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), that the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years after the date of its submission for ratification.” This resolution aims to ensure that lawmakers do not receive compensation during periods of government shutdowns.
The amendment specifies that a government shutdown is defined as a lapse in appropriations for any federal agency or department due to the failure to enact a regular appropriations bill or continuing resolution. It also grants Congress the authority to enforce this article through appropriate legislation.
The urgency of this proposal comes as the nation braces for a partial government shutdown, which is set to take effect on Wednesday. Both Republicans and Democrats have been exchanging blame for the impasse, failing to reach an agreement to avert a funding lapse by the impending deadline.
<p”Members of Congress have a constitutional duty to fund the government’s essential functions,” Norman remarked in a press release. “If Congress fails to meet that obligation, we should not expect taxpayers to continue paying us for inaction. No one else in America would get paid for failing to fulfill their duties—Congress should face the same principle.”
As discussions continue in Washington, the proposal reflects a growing sentiment among some lawmakers that accountability measures are necessary to ensure that Congress is held responsible for its actions, particularly during times of fiscal uncertainty.
In addition to his legislative efforts, Norman is also running for governor of South Carolina, further emphasizing his commitment to public service and accountability.
Source: Original article