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house Bill H.R. 174

No Budget, No Pay: Holding Congressional Paychecks When They Can't Agree on a Budget

Argument in favor

If Congress can’t come to an agreement on one of their most essential responsibilities — funding the government — they don’t deserve to be paid on time.

EricSchmeltzer's Opinion
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03/26/2015
When so many Federal employees don't get paid on time, or fear not getting paid, because of looming shutdowns, I'm all for Members having a bit more skin in the game, like the Federal employees and recipients of aid that they hold hostage.
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Spider-Man's Opinion
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05/16/2015
If I didn't get my photos submitted I wouldn't get paid. And fired. And yelled at. Actually getting yelled at happens anyway. But I digress. The nay section says not all congressmen aren't millionaires. Yeah they aren't. Yet. But they have a great power and when they misuse that power they should be held accountable. And the nay section also says that it would get them to vote on legislation they don't fully agree with. I say to that, isn't that what compromise is and also, something is better than nothing. Nothing being a shutdown which gets federal workers to lose their pay and for me to not go to national parks and stuff.
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Brian's Opinion
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03/26/2015
As with all workers, no productivity means no pay. And maybe you will all learn to compromise
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Argument opposed

This bill is coercive and could force Congressional members to vote for legislation they don't fully agree with. Not every member in Congress is a millionaire.

John's Opinion
···
03/26/2015
As much as I want to say yeah, I would rather pay congress for nothing, then to pay them for writing poor budgets and other bills that eveyone will cow to.
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Patrick's Opinion
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03/26/2015
Why back Congress into a corner? That's how Obamacare happened....
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Daniel's Opinion
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03/27/2015
as much as I would love subjecting congress to the same pressures as the rest of us, this bill would allow lobbyists to give a huge advantage to certain congressmen.
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Bill Details

Official information provided by the Congressional Research Service. Learn more or make a suggestion.
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Title

No Budget, No Pay Act

Official Title

To provide that the salaries of Members of a House of Congress will be held in escrow if that House has not agreed to a concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2016 by April 15, 2015.

Summary

No Budget, No Pay Act This bill withholds the salaries of Members of a house of Congress that has not agreed to a budget resolution for FY2016 by April 15, 2015, as required by the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Salaries are withheld from April 16, 2015, until the house of Congress agrees to a budget resolution or the last day of the 114th Congress, whichever is earlier.

bill Progress

  • Not enacted
    The President has not signed this bill
  • The senate has not voted
  • The house has not voted
      house Committees
      Committee on Administration
    IntroducedJanuary 6th, 2015
    EricSchmeltzer's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    03/26/2015
    When so many Federal employees don't get paid on time, or fear not getting paid, because of looming shutdowns, I'm all for Members having a bit more skin in the game, like the Federal employees and recipients of aid that they hold hostage.
    Like (63)
    Follow
    Share
    John's Opinion Against
    ···
    03/26/2015
    As much as I want to say yeah, I would rather pay congress for nothing, then to pay them for writing poor budgets and other bills that eveyone will cow to.
    Like (20)
    Follow
    Share
    Spider-Man's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    05/16/2015
    If I didn't get my photos submitted I wouldn't get paid. And fired. And yelled at. Actually getting yelled at happens anyway. But I digress. The nay section says not all congressmen aren't millionaires. Yeah they aren't. Yet. But they have a great power and when they misuse that power they should be held accountable. And the nay section also says that it would get them to vote on legislation they don't fully agree with. I say to that, isn't that what compromise is and also, something is better than nothing. Nothing being a shutdown which gets federal workers to lose their pay and for me to not go to national parks and stuff.
    Like (44)
    Follow
    Share
    Brian's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    03/26/2015
    As with all workers, no productivity means no pay. And maybe you will all learn to compromise
    Like (35)
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    EricRevell's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    03/26/2015
    It is pathetic that the Senate didn't pass a budget for 4 years. If it takes withholding paychecks to ensure that never happens again - by all means, do it.
    Like (34)
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    Cary's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    04/08/2015
    the budget is one of the most fundamental functions of Congress. Refusing to accomplish a vital job function means you haven't fulfilled your responsibility. Hence, no pay for you!
    Like (12)
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    Elinor's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    03/26/2015
    All senators, representatives, White House occupants, and Supreme Court justices should be paid NOTHING until they have a decent budget that benefits U.S. taxpaying citizens, and monthly cuts should apply to Congressional members' pay by 10% until they stop stealing from U.S. taxpaying citizens' benefits and until they stop supporting illegal aliens and external aliens.
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    FaithInJesus's Opinion In Favor
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    03/26/2015
    No back pay either! Not one member of Congress is going to go broke. My family of 6 grossed 22K last year.
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    Patrick's Opinion Against
    ···
    03/26/2015
    Why back Congress into a corner? That's how Obamacare happened....
    Like (8)
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    Daniel's Opinion Against
    ···
    03/27/2015
    as much as I would love subjecting congress to the same pressures as the rest of us, this bill would allow lobbyists to give a huge advantage to certain congressmen.
    Like (7)
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    Yvonne's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    03/27/2015
    if the government can hold other peoples pay the same should apply to them. They are people as all of us are. Do they think they are above everyone else?
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    Michael's Opinion In Favor
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    03/26/2015
    Constituents don't get paid if they don't accomplish their duties so why should representatives who work for them?
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    Tyler.Liberty's Opinion In Favor
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    03/03/2017
    This is a good start, even though it will take much more than this to get our spending under control. Yes, our government has a spending problem, and yes, it is republicans and democrats alike.
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    Evercraft's Opinion Against
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    06/09/2015
    Halting pay is something the richest Congressional members would love to be able to do to their opponents who might rely more on paychecks. It gives them another tool to punish their opposition for holding beliefs, and without pay, the power of lobbying money would be even stronger. Money is already corrupting Washington, and we shouldn't be seeking to strengthen the power of under-the-table deals.
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    Harry's Opinion In Favor
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    07/28/2015
    I am sort of torn on this one because I know that the richest and most powerful ones will not care at all.
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    DCPolitical's Opinion In Favor
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    06/14/2015
    It's their job to work together and pass bills. If they aren't doing it, it's their fault.
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    Jim's Opinion In Favor
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    12/05/2016
    Our members of Congress need to relearn the art of compromise, and this could be a good "stick" to teach them that.
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    Lance's Opinion Against
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    06/10/2015
    There should be no instruments in place that would force Congress to pass bills that may not be the best for America as a whole.
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    RussWhite's Opinion Against
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    03/26/2015
    I can fully understand trying to find ways and incentives to agree on a Budget Plan in a timely manner which benefits the populace, but using their pay as a way of coercing them would result in bad legislation and some officials to submit to a plan they don't actually approve of. They need influential encouragement not counterproductive coercion.
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    Paul's Opinion In Favor
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    03/21/2016
    When an employee doesn't perform the basic duties of their job, they are let go. Suspending pay checks doesn't seem too harsh, comparatively. Congress doesn't need to play games and pass legislation/budgets based on pseudo crisis, as is a popular technique. Anything that will motivate straight forward behavior in this area is a great idea. As my congressman reading this note, if may sound like I'm being harsh against you, but I assure you that this is not harsh at all.
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