Garbarino Co-Leads Legislation To Fine Members Of Congress In The Event Of A Government Shut Down

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, with a government shutdown looming, Congressman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY-02) co-led the No Work, No Pay Act. This legislation sponsored by Congressman Zach Nunn (R-IA-03) would fine Members of Congress an amount equivalent to one day’s pay for each day of a government shutdown. Representatives Marie Glusenkamp Perez (D-WA-03) and Chris Pappas (D-NH-01) also joined as co-leads. 

“Government shutdowns have real-world consequences for Americans, from delayed distribution of federal benefits to the furlough of hundreds of thousands of federal employees in communities across the country,” said Rep. Garbarino. “Congress has a duty to fund the government and, if it is unable to do that by the deadline, Members of Congress should face those consequences themselves. I’m co-leading this bill because I don’t believe Members should be paid for not doing the job the American people sent us to Washington to do.”

“Our government is supposed to be of the people, by the people, and for the people,” said Rep. Nunn. “Well, the people have had enough of greedy, self-aggrandizing clowns putting their own personal profit ahead of the American people. D.C. politicians need to play by the same rules as the rest of the American people.”

During a government shutdown, federal employees across the country—including members of the Armed Forces—will have their pay suspended. However, the 27th Amendment of the Constitution guarantees pay for Members of Congress. To comply with this Constitutional requirement and also ensure that Congress isn’t profiting while the American people suffer, the bipartisan No Work, No Pay Act would impose a fine on Representatives and Senators equal to one day’s pay for each day the government is shutdown.

The full text of the No Work, No Pay Act can be found here. 

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