Sunday, January 21, 2018

Why does Congress still get paychecks during a shutdown? It’s in the Constitution

Members of Congress are still collecting paychecks during the government shutdown while lower-wage federal workers will go without pay.
Article I, Section 6 of the U.S. Constitution allows the lawmakers to still get paid their salaries, despite the federal government being shut down due to their inability to reach an agreement.
A handful of Democrats from Trump-won states during the 2016 election introduced a bill Friday afternoon, hours ahead of the looming shutdown, which would do away with salaries for lawmakers during the period of time the government is officially closed.
“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,” said Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Michigan Democrat. “This bill ensures members of Congress will not get paid and another bill I have cosponsored makes sure our troops will.”
Several other members of Congress have taken to Twitter, saying they’ll also forego their paychecks.
During the 2013 government shutdown members of the military, veterans, military families, cafeteria workers, janitors and security guards felt the financial hurt more than most.

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