Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) today called on his Republican and Democratic colleagues, as well as the President and Vice Presdient, to join him in signing the “No Budget, No Pay” pledge, and forego their federal salaries if the government shuts down.

“It’s wrong for members of Congress to get paid when millions of Americans are hurt because Congress is unable or unwilling to keep the government running.  Congress shouldn’t be playing games with government services that folks back home rely on.  If they force a shutdown they should be willing to share in the pain they’re willing to impose on others,” said Congressman Barrow.  “We’d already have a deal if members of Congress knew that they wouldn’t get paid until they reached an agreement – that’s why I signed this pledge.  And if a deal isn’t on the table by midnight tonight, I call on the Speaker of the House to bring the Senate-passed pay cut bill to the floor, so that we can all see which members would protect themselves rather than their constituents.”

On March 1st, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bill that would prohibit salary payments to members of Congress and the President in the event of a shutdown.  However, the bill has not yet been brought before the U.S. House of Representatives.

Members’ federal salaries would either be returned to the U.S. Treasury Department or donated to charities, whichever is most supported by applicable U.S. law.

The bipartisan effort, spearheaded by U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, has the support of more than two dozen members of Congress, with more expected before midnight tonight.

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For Immediate Release: April 8, 2011