House Republicans will vote on a three-month extension of the debt ceiling coupled with a requirement that both chambers pass a budget or forego their salaries, a tactic meant to force Senate Democrats to pass a budget.
Speaker of the House John Boehner announced the move at the House Republican caucus retreat Friday, according to remarks provided by his office.
“Before there is any long-term debt limit increase, a budget should be passed that cuts spending. The Democratic-controlled Senate has failed to pass a budget for four years. That is a shameful run that needs to end, this year,” Boehner said. “We are going to pursue strategies that will obligate the Senate to finally join the House in confronting the government’s spending problem. The principle is simple: no budget, no pay.”
“A long-term increase in the debt limit that is not preceded by meaningful and responsible reductions in government spending might avert a default, but it would also invite a downgrade of our nation’s credit that damages our economy, hurts families and small businesses, and destroys jobs,” he said.
Majority Leader Eric Cantor echoed Boehner’s remarks in a statement released after the announcement.
“The first step to fixing this problem is to pass a budget that reduces spending. The House has done so, and will again. The Democratic Senate has not passed a budget in almost four years, which is unfair to hardworking taxpayers who expect more from their representatives. That ends this year,” he said.
“Members of Congress will not be paid by the American people for failing to do their job,” he said.