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Buffalo, NY (WBEN) He's battled for regionalism and government downsizing in Western New York, but now Kevin Gaughan wants Congress to forgo their pay during an upcoming recess.
"Basic fairness suggests that politicians should make equal sacrifice to that being made by people affected by Congress' inability to do its job," Gaughan said.
Gaughan has challenged local Congressmen Brian Higgins and Chris Collins to introduce the bill he's written out (see below). The savings amount to $3.5 million, but Gaughan says it would be symbolic. "It seems to me any congressperson who would have the courage to stand up and say, 'even if it's a little money, we should sacrifice along with all the Americans as we reduce spending' would introduce this," says Gaughan.
Will either man do this? Will any Congressman do this? "If they make their decision on whether this will succeed, I don't know but I believe this is the right thing to do," says Gaughan.
1ST SESSION H.R. ____
To establish and implement a fourteen day furlough of each
member of the House of Representatives and Senate of the 113th
Congress.
___________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH __, 2013
Mr. COLLINS [Mr. HIGGINS] introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on _____________________________,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned.
_____________________________________
A BILL
To promote fairness, through the shared economic sacrifice by Members of Congress, in light of the effect on American citizens of the necessary reductions in federal spending brought on by sequester, by amending United States Code, Title 2, Chapter 3, "Compensation and Allowances of Members of Congress," to allow for a one-time, fourteen-day suspension of pay to Members of the 113th Congress.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of America in
Congress assembled,
1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
2 This Act may be cited as the " Congressional Shared
3 Sacrifice Act of 2013."
4 SECTION 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS
5 Congress finds that the imposition placed on American citizens
6 as a result of the inability of this body to meet its obligation to
7 taxpayers through prompt resolution of the federal
8 government's chronic budget challenges, and the adverse effect
9 that this crisis has on the American economy, it is necessary
10 and advisable for Members of Congress to share in the
11 economic sacrifices being made by those we serve.
12 SECTION 3. THE CONGRESSIONAL FURLOUGH
13 Chapter 3 of title 2, United States Code, is amended by the
14 insertion of a new Sec. 39.a as follows -
15 (1) Commencing Monday March 25, 2013 and ending Friday,
16 April 5, 2013, the Chief Administrative Officer of the House
17 and Senate, respectively, shall suspend and withhold
18 compensation for all Members of the 113th Congress,
19 such withholding constituting a one-time furlough.
20 (2) The amount of all savings that inure as a result of this one-
21 time furlough shall be placed in a separate account and
22 subsequently applied as a majority of members in the House
23 and Senate shall determine.