[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 179 (Monday, November 13, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H16951]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1415
               NO BUDGET, NO PAY FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

  (Mr. DURBIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. Speaker, remember when a little child would say to 
you, ``I am going to hold my breath until I turn blue in the face?'' 
That is exactly what is going on with the politicians here in 
Washington. Can you imagine for a minute that we are going to shut down 
the Federal Government, that our political egos are that colossal?
  Think about this for a second: Tomorrow we are going to send 800,000 
Federal workers home without pay, while Members of Congress still 
receive their paychecks. That is fundamentally unfair and wrong.
  H.R. 2281, which I introduced with Senator Boxer of California, says 
no budget, no pay. If this train wrecks, then Speaker Gingrich and the 
train crew and all of the rest of us will not be paid until the train 
is back on the track and running again.
  Mr. Speaker, Members of Congress should start focusing a little more 
on solving problems, rather than creating them, with no budget, no pay.
  Mr. Speaker, I am sorry you left the Chamber. I am sorry that Speaker 
Gingrich is not here. My request to him is put whatever else is on the 
calendar aside. Pass no budget, no pay, and this crisis will be over.

                          ____________________