H.R.208 - No Budget, No Pay Act (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.208, the "No Budget, No Pay Act," proposes that if either the House or Senate fails to agree on a concurrent budget resolution by April 15th for the upcoming fiscal year, the salaries of its members will be held in escrow. These salaries would be released upon agreement on a budget resolution or at the end of the Congress. The bill aims to incentivize timely budget agreement by withholding pay.
Expected Effects
The primary effect would be to place financial pressure on members of Congress to agree on a budget resolution by the April 15th deadline. This could lead to more timely budget agreements. Failure to agree would result in delayed compensation for members.
Potential Benefits
- Incentivizes Timely Budget Agreements: Creates a direct financial incentive for Congress to meet budget deadlines.
- Potential for Reduced Government Shutdowns: By encouraging timely budget agreements, the bill may reduce the likelihood of government shutdowns.
- Increased Accountability: Holds members of Congress accountable for fulfilling their budgetary responsibilities.
- Symbolic Gesture: Demonstrates a commitment to fiscal responsibility and timely governance.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for Political Gridlock: Could exacerbate political gridlock if members are unwilling to compromise, even with the threat of withheld pay.
- Disproportionate Impact: May disproportionately affect members with lower personal wealth, potentially influencing their decision-making.
- Unintended Consequences: Could lead to rushed or poorly negotiated budget agreements simply to avoid salary withholding.
- Circumvention: Congress could potentially find ways to circumvent the law's intent.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's constitutionality is potentially questionable under the Twenty-Seventh Amendment, which prohibits varying the compensation of Senators and Representatives until after an election has intervened. The bill attempts to address this by releasing escrowed funds at the end of the Congress, but the initial withholding could still be argued as a violation. Article I, Section 6, Clause 1 of the Constitution addresses compensation for Senators and Representatives.
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).