A Republican lawmaker is forgoing a paycheck during the Democrat-induced shutdown of the federal government.
“I have been informed that despite a lapse of appropriations and current government shutdown, under current law, Members of Congress would continue to receive their salary,” Virginia Rep. Barbara Comstock, a Republican, wrote to Phil Kiko, the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives.
“Since I do not agree with that policy, please withhold my pay until an appropriations agreement has taken effect.”
The federal government shutdown on Saturday after the Senate failed to reach an agreement on an appropriations bill that had been approved by the House. The upper chamber voted 50-49 on the approval of a short-term funding bill, but 60 votes were needed for passage.
Partisan debate raged over who was responsible for the shutdown, with the hashtags #TrumpShutdown and #SchumerShutdown trending on Twitter.
But it was mostly Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who voted against the bill and in favor of shutting down the government. Forty-four Democrats and five Republicans voted against the measure, while 45 Republicans and five Democrats supported it.
Comstock’s refusal to accept pay during the shutdown is a smart political move given that her district in Northern Virginia is home to many federal employees and military members.
“As a result of a Democrat led filibuster, the Senate opted for a government shutdown instead of supporting our military and federal employees and the essential and important work they do,” Comstock said in a statement.
“It is simply unacceptable to hold our military and federal employees hostage,” she added, echoing a statement issued from the White House just after the shutdown.
“Democrats refuse to take yes for an answer on these issues we all agree on,” she added.
Senators reconvened on Saturday in hopes of hammering out an agreement that could re-open the government.