Dems File Bill to Dock Congress' Pay if Govt Shuts Down

Vulnerable Democratic senators from five states where President Donald Trump won the vote in 2016 — and who face re-election themselves this year — introduced a bill Friday to dock Congress members' pay if the government shuts down, The Hill reported.

Sens. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Jon Tester of Montana, Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and Joe Manchin of West Virginia sided with the military, federal workers and their own red-state constituents in any looming crisis, The Hill reported.

"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, The Hill reported. "Period."

And even if the bill fails to pass, Stabenow vowed to donate her salary if a shutdown occurs, saying, "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."

"This bill ensures members of Congress will not get paid and another bill I have cosponsored makes sure our troops will," she said, The Hill reported.

Democratic Reps. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York and Stephanie Murphy of Florida tweeted similar promises.

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 Senate is expected to take up a vote on a House-passed spending bill Friday night; if it doesn't collected the 60 votes necessary, funding will run out at midnight, triggering a shutdown.

• Senators Skirmish as Congress Hurtles Toward a Shutdown
• Paul Ryan: Government Shutdown 'Needless, Completely Unnecessary'