For Immediate Release
January 23, 2013
Jordan Russell
NUNNELEE VOTES FOR NO BUDGET, NO PAY ACT
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Alan Nunnelee (R-Miss) released the following statement on his vote for H.R. 325, the No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013:
“Incredibly, for four years the Democrat-controlled Senate has failed to pass a budget. In those four years, we have gone from $12 trillion to over $16 trillion in debt. Their failure has left the House and the Republican Senate minority as the only people in D.C. trying to solve our debt problem.
At a time when so many Americans are hurting, out of work, or being hit with increased taxes due to the fiscal cliff deal and Obamacare, the least Congress can do is pass a budget explaining its spending priorities to the American people. Our plan will balance the budget within 10 years.
Out of control spending cannot be solved by one chamber, and in an era of divided government, it cannot be solved by one party. No Budget, No Pay is an effort to convince the Democrat-controlled Senate to join us in doing the work we were sent here to do.”
The No Budget, No Pay Act would give both the Senate and House until April 15 to pass budgets, as is required by law. If either chamber fails, its pay will be withheld until it does so, or at the end of the 113th Congress, whichever comes first.
Congressman Alan Nunnelee represents Mississippi’s First Congressional District and serves on the House Appropriations Committee. This is his second term.
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January 23, 2013
Good afternoon–
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill today to withhold member pay for any chamber that fails to pass a budget by April 15, 2013. If agreed to by the U.S. Senate and signed by the president, this plan would also temporarily delay the impending debt-ceiling crisis.
Passing a budget is not only a fundamental duty of governing, it is a constitutionally-mandated responsibility. Even so, the Senate has not written a budget since 2009 as the Democratic majority leader has attempted to guard his members from taking tough votes.
The no budget, no pay portion of this bill was written specifically to ensure that it complies with the 27th Amendment. The legislation does not vary the amount of compensation. It only changes when representatives and senators are paid if they fail to adopt a budget resolution as required by law.
Currently, representatives are paid monthly and senators are paid twice a month. This bill simply says if a chamber does not adopt a budget resolution the members of that body instead get paid at the end of the Congress.
Over the last several years, the House has advanced budget blueprints that address the United States’ long-term financial needs. These resolutions reduce spending, reform our outdated tax code and remove regulatory burdens that cripple our small businesses.
Now it is time for the Senate to follow suit. It’s simple: #NoBudgetNoPay.
God bless,
Gregg Harper
