[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 199 (Thursday, December 14, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H14878]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    NO BUDGET, NO CONGRESSIONAL PAY

  (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, when the Republicans failed to pass the 
necessary appropriations bills, they precipitated a crisis last month 
which led to the longest Government shutdown in our Nation's history. 
The Government shutdown cost American taxpayers $100 million a day 
because Mr. Gingrich and the Republican leaders failed to pass a 
spending bill to keep the Government open. That sort of tragedy should 
not be repeated, and yet, tomorrow, it may be.
  We now have another threat from the Republican leadership to close 
down the Government again, this time to send home some 300,000 Federal 
employees and once again leave the American taxpayers holding the bag.
  Mr. Gingrich insists that closing down the Government and sending 
home these employees is a matter of principle. Let me suggest something 
to the Speaker. It is a matter of principle if your paycheck is on the 
line, not if the paychecks of 300,000 Federal employees are on the 
line.
  Mr. Gingrich, you can put your paycheck on the line by supporting my 
bill: No budget, no pay. If Congress fails to keep the Government open, 
Congress does not get paid.
  Mr. Gingrich has killed this bill five times. We have to push forward 
to make sure that Congress does the responsible thing.

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