House Speaker Boehner Receiving His Paycheck At A Government Shutdown
By gladys46
@gladys46 (1205)
United States
March 10, 2011 11:58am CST
In an Op-ed by Senators Bob Casey and Barbara Boxer (both democrats) appearing in Politico, the senators urged Mr. Boehner to support a bill introduced in the Senate that would prevent congressional members and the president from being paid during a government shutdown "While we may not agree on everything in this budget, lawmakers from both parties should agree on this: If we cannot fulfill our most basic responsibility to keep the government operating, we should not receive a paycheck."
"It's a little known fact that members of Congress and the president are not treated the same as millions of other federal employees -- because we're paid through mandatory spending, rather than annual appropriations. In the event of a government shutdown, we would be among the few to continue receiving paychecks."
"It's unfair that members of Congress or the president would be paid while millions of other workers who serve the American people would see their paychecks cut off and have to struggle to pay their bills."
"Our bill could fix this inequity, it would also go a step further, saying that lawmakers and the president should not be paid retroactively after a shutdown. The message could not be clearer: No budget no pay."
.....
Is it Mr. Boehner's move?
1 person likes this
6 responses
@artistry (4151)
• United States
10 Mar 11
...Hi there gladys, Now this is great, it would make a lot of sense. So that they can share in the pain that others will feel if indeed the government shuts down. But Mr. Bojangles will never, ever put forth such a bill unless I am missing my guess. He needs his check to pay his green fees and to take care of his tanning bed."o) We should not look for that bill to see the light of day on his watch. I can just imagine his eyes welling up with tears when he read the proposal. Do not make the man have to go to his medicine cabinet for his Valium. Cheers.
1 person likes this
@gladys46 (1205)
• United States
10 Mar 11
Hi artistry! As the newly elected republican (can't think of his name) raged that he could not wait 28 days (28 days only) to be covered by 'his" government administered health care plan ... and the world class hypocrisy goes on and on!!
1 person likes this
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
10 Mar 11
Of course they shouldn't be paid during a government shutdown. Frankly, I don't think they should be paid if they can't balance the budget. They are the ones responsible for spending money in this country and should be the first ones to take a hit if we are spending more than we are collecting.
That said you shouldn't be pretending that this is a Boehner issue, nor is it a left/right issue. Both republicans and democrats have proposed such bills in the past. I've never seen one make it past committee.
1 person likes this
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
11 Mar 11
I agree that they should not be paid if the government is shut down. I would go one step further and say that Congress has to follow the laws and rules that they create. A few years ago Senator McGovern said he would have voted different on many bills if he knew then what he knew now. Now he has a small business and sees the problems caused by many of the laws and rules that business have to follow.
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
10 Mar 11
Here's the link, Hon:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/51007.html
According to this, the Senate has already voted unanimously to not get paid if the government were to shut down but it hasn't been brought to the floor for a House vote, which would be up to Speaker Boehner. In 1995 Boehner had told CNN, “I’d be happy to sign onto that bill right now.” The bill was also passed in the Senate, also with Senator Boxer as a sponsor, in 1995 but was blocked in the House.
This absolutely shouldn't be a partisan issue and obviously the Senate deserves kudos for not making it so; now it'stime for the House to do the same and it's Speaker Boehner who must lead.
Annie
@terryt52 (243)
• United States
10 Mar 11
I do believe that government workers are represented by unions. I do not think that congressional members have a union. I am so sick of union members crying over everything. State and Government workers are over paid. Most private sector workers to not get the pay or benefits that public sector do. After they Wi problems with union workers I have less respect for unions than I ever did before. I feel that it is the unions who created the state and government messes and if no one gets paid until it is straightened out then I guess you might be able to collect unemployment. That is what alot of Americans are doing right now. Sorry but all this madness has got to stop.
@gladys46 (1205)
• United States
10 Mar 11
Terry, you say "Federal government workers are represented by unions" .. really? What "unions" are they? Perhaps you might think government workers are over paid and make more than private sector workers performing the same jobs, I'm not sure that's true either. When your roads and highways are not cleared of twenty feet of snow, I think you might cry out for government help ... especially, if you need to get to work using those roads. Union workers did not cause America to be in such financial stresses, Unregulated Wall Street did!
1 person likes this
@terryt52 (243)
• United States
10 Mar 11
Gladys46 I said I do believe which means I am not sure. How ever most government and state workers are over paid compared to the private sector if you include retirement and benefits. You can not even buy a health insurance policy that is provided to our state employess that is how great the coverage is. I am sure the government workers benefits are near that. I would rather walk to work in a snow storm that our state and government budgets to continue in the path they are on. Wall Street had little to do with all this budget problems. the problem a state nor government can not afford to keep paying for employees and retirees it catches up so sad but the truth.I am tired of all this double pay crap. see when I retire I had to of worried about my own retirement. That means take my dollars and put it away for retirement and hope I work for a company that at least matches some of it.
@gladys46 (1205)
• United States
10 Mar 11
Yes Terry, you did say you believed ... I don't think your belief is accurate though. I'm not sure under which President but, I believe it was Carter (you may want to check that) that federal unions were either dissolved.
You also believe that Wall Street had little to do with all these budget woes ... okay but, you might want to know just what caused President Bush and Hank Paulson to ask this nation and congress for $700 billion dollars in TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) taxpayer funds to bail out banks and financial institutions some we still don't know! I'd give you the history which began the national financial crash causing the "Great Recession of 2008" which has indeed affected all states, job losses, home losses, etc., etc.... except, I don't have time right now.
btw, union members give up salary raises during many negotiating periods in lieu of perhaps an extra day or two off from work, or perhaps the ability to enroll in some work related educational class ... just an example.
1 person likes this
@fitriadi21 (386)
• Indonesia
11 Mar 11
Gladys...i do not live in USA, so i do not really understand about it.
But, i just to say one thing, which often hurt our democracy is an irrational loyalty to a particular political faction.
So... I think the elegant political attitudes is when the struggle in democracy system is intended for true thing and the welfare of the much more people, not for the welfare and the interests of a few people. Even if a few people that are part of our group. Without any pretension to other faction.
So.... I don't understand, how the interpretation of most Americans people about democracy?
@gladys46 (1205)
• United States
11 Mar 11
Hi fitriadi. I like to call myself a "proud" liberal, however, I have many problems with some politicians who supposedly represent the political party that I'm registered.
I think it's okay to listen, read and know all views, even if one does not agree. To merely box oneself inside one point of view, to me is limiting oneself of the larger pictures. Since, the democratic political party addresses most of my own and my family issues, I choose to stay a registered democratic. Once, in protest to my party, I re-registered as an independent and thus voted the same. And, I do believe in freedom, free elections, free speech and the right to pursue happiness ... that should include ALL!
