Trump-state Dems introduce bill to withhold lawmaker pay during shutdown

Five Democratic senators from states won by President Trump in the 2016 presidential election introduced legislation Friday to withhold pay from members of Congress in the event of a government shutdown.

Sens. Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.), Claire McCaskill (Mo.), Jon Tester (Mont.), Debbie Stabenow (Mich.) and Joe Manchin (W.Va.), all of whom are up for reelection this year, announced the bill Friday, hours ahead of a government funding deadline.

“If members of Congress can’t fulfill their basic duty to keep the government open and provide the essential services Americans depend on, then they don’t deserve their paychecks,” Heitkamp said in a statement. “Period.” 

{mosads}Stabenow echoed Heitkamp’s remarks in the statement and vowed to donate her salary in the event of a shutdown even if the bill doesn’t pass.

“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,” Stabenow said. “This bill ensures members of Congress will not get paid and another bill I have cosponsored makes sure our troops will.”

Democratic Reps. Sean Patrick Maloney (N.Y.) and Stephanie Murphy (Fla.) also vowed Friday to forgo their pay if the government shuts down.

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

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

The announcement comes as Congress barrels towards the first government shutdown since 2013.

House Republicans passed a short-term government spending bill Thursday, but Senate Democrats have vowed to block the bill when it comes up for a vote.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) met with President Trump at the White House Friday but left the meeting without a deal to avert a shutdown, saying there are still a “good number of disagreements” with Trump on immigration and spending.

The Senate is expected to take a vote on the House-passed spending bill Friday evening, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY.) is expected to fall short of the 60 votes necessary.