On the recordFebruary 17, 2012
Every year around this time, the President submits a budget, the House and Senate debate their own budgets and, well, nothing happens. Congress has not adopted a budget in over 1,000 days, and it's been 15 years since Congress passed all of its appropriations bills on time. This is simply unacceptable, and that's why I ask my colleagues to join me and the bipartisan cosponsors of the No Budget, No Pay Act. This bill is simple. It says that if Congress can't complete its work, if the budget and appropriations bills are not done on time, then congressional pay would cease and Members of Congress would not be paid until those bills are enacted. Members could not receive their lost salaries retroactively. Once pay is withheld, it's gone forever. Somehow, I think if this bill were law, Members would find a new urgency and finally find a way to get their work done on time. ____________________
