[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 2 (Thursday, January 4, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S65-S66]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             REFUSING MY PAY DURING THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, tomorrow, like other Members of Congress, I 
will receive a paycheck for the last 2 weeks. In good conscience, 
however, I cannot use this money while thousands of Federal Government 
employees are denied their paychecks because Congress refuses to reopen 
the Government. Until this Government shutdown ends, I will be putting 
the amount of my paycheck into escrow.
  As a matter of principle, Members of Congress should be treated the 
same as all Federal employees. I work for the people of Vermont, 
including the hard-working Federal workers who are being punished by 
this Government shutdown. If the Federal workers in my home State 
cannot receive a paycheck, then I will not receive a paycheck.
  I am a cosponsor and strong supporter of Senator Boxer's no budget-no 
pay bill which would stop the pay of Members of Congress during a 
Government shutdown. The Senate has passed this legislation three 
separate times, but the leadership of the House of Representatives 
refuses to bring the bill to a vote. I would also note that the Senate 
has passed legislation to put people back to work. The distinguished 
majority leader, Senator Dole, introduced a continuing resolution which 
passed to that effect. But that has been rejected by the House of 
Representatives.
  I urge the House Speaker and my other colleagues in the House and 
Senate to also give up their paychecks until Congress ends this foolish 
Government shutdown. Speaker Gingrich and the House Republicans are all 
accepting their pay while Federal workers are working without pay or 
forced to stay home without pay. In fact, at least one Member of the 
other body said he would accept his pay ``because he is in the 
Constitution,'' although I do not find his name in my copy of the 
Constitution. I believe it is the height of arrogance for them to 
accept it. In fact, they even accepted travel money 

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from the taxpayers to go home for a Christmas vacation.
  If the Speaker and his followers would also give up their pay as I 
am, I believe the House would quickly vote to reopen the Government. 
Maybe if they went without pay for a while, they would find out what it 
is like when you are working but not getting paid. They would learn 
that the bills keep coming even though the paychecks do not, which is 
what thousands of Federal workers in Vermont and throughout the country 
are now finding out.
  My family is no different than any of the other hundreds of Vermont 
families that are going to miss that paycheck because of this shutdown. 
I will not enjoy my pay if they cannot enjoy theirs.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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