Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that provides a short-term extension of the debt ceiling and includes a measure preventing Members of Congress from getting paid until they pass a budget.
On behalf of the fiscally conservative, Democratic Blue Dog Coalition, Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Ore., Co-Chair for Communications, issued the following statement:
“The House passed legislation yesterday that averts an immediate debt ceiling crisis and includes language to withhold member pay if they do not pass a budget. Under Rep. Jim Cooper’s leadership, the Blue Dogs endorsed his version of the No Budget, No Pay Act and worked hard to pass it in the last Congress. We continue to support the idea that Members of Congress should not get paid until they do their job and pass a budget.
“As the bill goes to the Senate, we remind our colleagues that our nation’s deep fiscal crisis is far from over. From Wall Street to Main Street, our economy needs long-term certainty now more than ever – no more last-minute deals, political posturing or empty rhetoric. The Blue Dogs will continue to play a pivotal role in these negotiations moving forward, because we believe challenges this big can only be met with bipartisan cooperation.”
