I 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6108 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 12, 2012 Mr. Flores introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To reduce the pay of Members of Congress who miss votes because of campaigning for election to another office.

1.

Reduction in pay of members who miss votes because of campaigning for election to other office

(a)

Reduction in pay

Section 601(a) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 31) is amended— (1)in paragraph (1), in the matter following subparagraph (C), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting paragraphs (2) and (3); and (2)by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (3)

Reduction in pay of members missing votes because of campaigning for election to other office

(A)

Members of the House

(i)

Reduction

If during a Congress a Member of the House of Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress) is a candidate for election to any office other than the office of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress, the rate of pay otherwise applicable to the Member for any month during that Congress shall be reduced by the Member’s missed vote percentage for the most recent month prior to that month. (ii)

Missed vote percentage defined

In this paragraph, the missed vote percentage of a Member of the House of Representatives described in clause (i) with respect to any month is equal to the percentage of votes taken in the House of Representatives during that month (including votes taken in the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union) for which the Member did not cast a vote because the Member was absent from the House on the day the vote was taken, unless on such day the Member did not engage in any campaign-related activity for the election described in clause (i). (iii)

Duties of clerk

The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall— (I)consult with the Federal Election Commission on an ongoing basis to determine which Members (if any) are candidates for election to any office other than the office of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress; and (II)provide the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives with such information as the Chief Administrative Officer may require in order to carry out this subparagraph. (B)

Senators

(i)

Reduction

If during a Congress a Senator is a candidate for election to any office other than the office of Senator, the rate of pay otherwise applicable to the Senator for any month during that Congress shall be reduced by the Senator’s missed vote percentage for the most recent month prior to that month. (ii)

Missed vote percentage defined

In this paragraph, the missed vote percentage of a Senator described in clause (i) with respect to any month is equal to the percentage of votes taken in the Senate during that month for which the Senator did not cast a vote because the Senator was absent from the Senate on the day the vote was taken, unless on such day the Senator did not engage in any campaign-related activity for the election described in clause (i). (iii)

Duties of secretary

The Secretary of the Senate shall consult with the Federal Election Commission on an ongoing basis to determine which Senators (if any) are candidates for election to any office other than the office of Senator. (C)

Transfer of funds to reduce the public debt

For each fiscal year, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer from the general fund of the Treasury to the account established by section 3113(d) of title 31, United States Code, an amount equal to the difference between the aggregate amount expended for the pay of Members of Congress for the fiscal year and the aggregate amount that would have been expended for the pay of Members of Congress for the fiscal year but for the operation of this paragraph. . (b)

Effective date

The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect January 1, 2013.