Summary
A petition to stop Congress members from getting paid during government shutdowns has over 97,000 signatures. The petition argues that lawmakers should not receive their salaries if the government closes, while affected government workers do not get paid immediately. Some members of Congress support the idea, but changing salaries during a shutdown faces legal challenges.
Key Facts
- A petition aims to strip Congress members of their pay during government shutdowns and has gathered over 97,000 signatures.
- It suggests a 2% salary reduction for Congress for each day the government remains closed.
- The government shutdown started because Congress couldn't agree on a funding measure by October 1st.
- During shutdowns, non-essential services stop, and some government workers don’t get paid but receive their money after the shutdown ends.
- Most Congress members earn an annual salary of $174,000.
- A constitutional amendment to stop pay during shutdowns needs two-thirds support in both the House and Senate to pass.
- The 27th Amendment stops Congress from changing its salary immediately; changes take effect after the next election.
- Some lawmakers, like Norman, Kim, and Cammack, support stopping pay, but legal barriers exist.
