At least seven members of Congress will join government workers and members of the military in having their pay withheld during the government shutdown.
Reps. Barbara Comstock (R-VA), Lou Barletta (R-PA), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Dan Donovan (R-NY), Mia Love (R-UT), Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY), and Tom MacArthur (R-NJ) have all publicly requested their pay be withheld until the ongoing government shutdown comes to an end.
As Fox News reports, their requests were all made in the form of letters sent to the Capitol’s administrative office.
Here is what Rep. Comstock posted on Facebook: “In light of the unacceptable action taken by Senate Democrats to shut down the federal government, I have requested my pay be withheld until the #SchumerShutdown ends.”
Rep. Love also posted a letter on Facebook: “I have requested my pay be withheld until the #schumershutdown ends.”
Rep. Maloney commented on Twitter, “I’m sending a letter to the House Chief Administrative Office asking that my pay be withheld in the event of a shutdown. The people I represent wouldn’t get paid if they didn’t do their job – and neither should Congress.”
I'll give up my paycheck if the government shuts down.
I'm sending a letter to the House Chief Administrative Office asking that my pay be withheld in the event of a shutdown. The people I represent wouldn't get paid if they didn't do their job – and neither should Congress. pic.twitter.com/SRBKwuBVyq
— Sean Patrick Maloney (@RepSeanMaloney) January 19, 2018
Rep. Barletta posted a letter, noting that it’s “not appropriate” for him to be paid while other government employees are suffering. “Blanket amnesty for illegal immigrants does nothing to solve the problem,” Barletta wrote. “In fact, it will encourage a wave of illegal immigration seeking forgiveness for breaking our laws.”
Barletta added he’s not happy that the shutdown is due to the Democrats’ fight over illegal immigration: “I have asked the CAO to withhold my pay until Senate Democrats end this pointless #SchumerShutdown. Blanket amnesty for illegal immigrants does nothing to solve the problem. In fact, it will encourage a wave of illegal immigration seeking forgiveness for breaking our laws.” He continued, “It will also encourage politicians to play to illegal immigrants for votes instead of considering American citizens first. This is why we are dealing with the illegal immigration problem in the first place.”
Members of Congress shouldn't collect a salary while thousands of government employees are furloughed without pay. I’ll return my salary for every day the government is shut down because it's the right thing to do. #FlaPol
— Rep Stephanie Murphy (@RepStephMurphy) January 19, 2018
Other members of Congress are also offering to donate their salary to good causes. Rep. Scott Taylor (R-VA), a retired Navy SEAL, said on Twitter that he will donate each shutdown day’s salary to a different military or veterans organization while our troops go largely unpaid.
Taylor said that his Saturday salary would be given to a group called VetsHouse.
Congress shouldn't be paid during this #GovtShutdown , just like some of you aren't being paid & especially if our military & first responders are not. I will donate my salary to a military/veterans' charity each day. Today's pay will go to Vetshouse, Inc.https://t.co/780MrFfYDP
— Scott Taylor (@Scotttaylorva) January 20, 2018
This is an important statement for members of Congress to make. Not only is it unfortunate that more members of Congress aren’t rejecting their salaries, it’s shameless that Democrats are willing to play politics with illegal immigration to shut down the federal government. Our troops deserve to be paid on time and this shutdown can only damage the positive effects taking place during the booming Trump economy.
Please share this story with your friends on Facebook and Twitter! Please tell your representatives to reject their salaries during the government shutdown.
