H.R.1973 - No Pay for Congress During Default or Shutdown Act (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.1973, the "No Pay for Congress During Default or Shutdown Act," aims to reduce the annual pay of Members of Congress if the public debt limit is reached or a government shutdown occurs. The bill proposes a reduction in pay for each day of a shutdown or debt limit breach, calculated as one day's worth of pay for each 24-hour period of the event. A special rule for the 119th Congress involves holding salaries in escrow during such periods, with amounts released at the end of the Congress to avoid violating the Twenty-Seventh Amendment.
Expected Effects
The bill intends to incentivize Congress to avoid government shutdowns and debt limit crises by directly impacting their compensation. During the 119th Congress, the bill would place congressional salaries in escrow during shutdowns or debt limit breaches. After the 119th Congress, the bill would reduce pay for each day of a shutdown or debt limit breach.
Potential Benefits
- Increased Accountability: Holds members of Congress accountable for failing to prevent shutdowns and debt crises.
- Financial Incentive: Creates a financial incentive for Congress to resolve budget impasses promptly.
- Potential Cost Savings: Could lead to savings for taxpayers if shutdowns and debt limit issues are avoided or shortened.
- Public Trust: May improve public trust in government by demonstrating that lawmakers share in the consequences of their actions.
- Reduced Political Gamesmanship: Could discourage the use of shutdowns and debt limits as political bargaining chips.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for unintended consequences: Could incentivize Congress to make hasty decisions to avoid pay reductions, potentially leading to poor policy outcomes.
- Disproportionate impact: May disproportionately affect members with lower personal wealth, potentially discouraging qualified individuals from serving.
- Legal challenges: The escrow provision for the 119th Congress is designed to avoid violating the 27th Amendment, but legal challenges are still possible.
- Limited effectiveness: May not be sufficient to overcome deep-seated political divisions and prevent shutdowns or debt crises.
- Focus on Symptoms: Addresses the symptoms of political dysfunction rather than the underlying causes.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's alignment with the Constitution is complex. The main concern is the 27th Amendment, which prohibits varying the compensation of Senators and Representatives until an election of Representatives has intervened. The bill attempts to address this by holding salaries in escrow and releasing them at the end of the Congress, but this approach could still face legal challenges. The bill does not appear to infringe on any other specific constitutional provisions, such as the First Amendment or the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment. Article I, Section 6, Clause 1 addresses compensation and might be relevant.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).