#NoBudgetNoPay

Good afternoon--

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill today to withhold member pay for any chamber that fails to pass a budget by April 15, 2013. If agreed to by the U.S. Senate and signed by the president, this plan would also temporarily delay the impending debt-ceiling crisis.

Passing a budget is not only a fundamental duty of governing, it is a constitutionally-mandated responsibility. Even so, the Senate has not written a budget since 2009 as the Democratic majority leader has attempted to guard his members from taking tough votes.

The no budget, no pay portion of this bill was written specifically to ensure that it complies with the 27th Amendment. The legislation does not vary the amount of compensation. It only changes when representatives and senators are paid if they fail to adopt a budget resolution as required by law.

Currently, representatives are paid monthly and senators are paid twice a month. This bill simply says if a chamber does not adopt a budget resolution the members of that body instead get paid at the end of the Congress.

Over the last several years, the House has advanced budget blueprints that address the United States’ long-term financial needs. These resolutions reduce spending, reform our outdated tax code and remove regulatory burdens that cripple our small businesses.

Now it is time for the Senate to follow suit. It’s simple: #NoBudgetNoPay.

God bless,

Gregg Harper
Member of Congress