No Government - No Pay Act 2013

[Ulaven_Demorte]

Rep. Rick Nolan (D-Minn.) introduced a bill Tuesday that would block members of Congress from being paid during a government shutdown.

The "No Government – No Pay Act" would stop members from being paid their salaries for as long as a shutdown continues.

"The inability of this Congress to collaborate, compromise, and get things done has led me to introduce legislation to prohibit Members from being paid when failure to do their job results in a government shutdown," Nolan said in a Tuesday statement. "It’s time for Congress to start living in the real world – where you either do your job, or you don’t get paid."

The caveat? It may violate the 27th Amendment which states that no law changing congressional compensation may take effect until an election in the House of Representatives.

Thoughts?

 

[IrezumiKiss]

All for it.

This shutdown might not last a week, but even so, all those fucks making higher tier six-digit incomes ain't feeling pain from this.

 

[RobDownSouth]

I'm sure that Vetty, AJ and the rest of the Literotica School of Constitutional Skolars will be here shortly and inform us that such legislation is blatantly unconsitutional.

:nods:

 

[Recidiva]

I'm for it.

 

[chillywilly2]

Thoughts....smoke and mirrors...he wants to look like a hero to the people but knows it can never happen

 

[Ulaven_Demorte]

I'm sure that Vetty, AJ and the rest of the Literotica School of Constitutional Skolars will be here shortly and inform us that such legislation is blatantly unconsitutional.

:nods:

They can pass it, it just wouldn't take effect until the next House election, November 2014.

 

[Sean Renaud]

It sounds to me like symbolic feel good bullshit. I haven't checked recently but last I checked nearly everybody in Congress is worth a mill plus and all of them are the kinds of people who could afford to take off from work to campaign for a job they might not get. Them surrendering their pay will make it look like they are sharing in the pain of the rest of the country but they really aren't. It's like when Obama gave up 10% of his pay in a show of solidarity. Anybody wanna bet he made that 10% back in book sales?

 

[Adre]

We should pay them what they're worth.

 

[Ulaven_Demorte]

It sounds to me like symbolic feel good bullshit. I haven't checked recently but last I checked nearly everybody in Congress is worth a mill plus and all of them are the kinds of people who could afford to take off from work to campaign for a job they might not get. Them surrendering their pay will make it look like they are sharing in the pain of the rest of the country but they really aren't. It's like when Obama gave up 10% of his pay in a show of solidarity. Anybody wanna bet he made that 10% back in book sales?

Regardless, they are paid to do a job. If they can't or won't do their job they should not be paid. Hell, make them have to forfeit their seat to the opposing party. That should get them working. Miss three votes in a row and have no medical excuse? Sorry, your seat now belongs to the person from the opposing party that ran against you in the previous election.

It doesn't matter if they actually need the pay in order to survive. Unless of course you think anyone in politics should take a vow of poverty. If you think politicians are corrupt NOW... whew.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

They get the bulk of their money from payoffs.

I'm OK with a law that hangs them from DC lamp posts.

When Valley Forge was in bloom Congress fought over its pay and perks and accommodations while the soldiers froze and starved. They couldn't find the money for food or shoes or blankets but all Congress Critters managed to get new carriages. Nothing has changed,

 

[Sean Renaud]

Regardless, they are paid to do a job. If they can't or won't do their job they should not be paid. Hell, make them have to forfeit their seat to the opposing party. That should get them working. Miss three votes in a row and have no medical excuse? Sorry, your seat now belongs to the person from the opposing party that ran against you in the previous election.

It doesn't matter if they actually need the pay in order to survive. Unless of course you think anyone in politics should take a vow of poverty. If you think politicians are corrupt NOW... whew.

I don't disagree with the fact that they are paid to do a job. Though in this case there hasn't been a vote so I'm not sure this would effect them much. I'd be happy to have a system where after 'x' amount of fucking about your seat is forfeit. That might work. I just imagine that not paying them wouldn't do much. It's like when I hear about Kobe being fined 10k for talking some shit in a game. He's got that kind of cash in his couch for crying out loud. I don't like symbolic gestures.

I wouldn't STOP anybody from pursing this goal I just think you're wasting time that might be better served finding real solutions.

 

[Recidiva]

I don't disagree with the fact that they are paid to do a job. Though in this case there hasn't been a vote so I'm not sure this would effect them much. I'd be happy to have a system where after 'x' amount of fucking about your seat is forfeit. That might work. I just imagine that not paying them wouldn't do much. It's like when I hear about Kobe being fined 10k for talking some shit in a game. He's got that kind of cash in his couch for crying out loud. I don't like symbolic gestures.

I wouldn't STOP anybody from pursing this goal I just think you're wasting time that might be better served finding real solutions.

It would help set a precedent. I'm not saying it will fix the world. Even if it's just symbolic, it could be a selling point on future elections.

Even a symbolic attempt at some level of responsibility would not go amiss. It's not like it's the craziest idea somebody has had this week.

 

[unregistered]

 

[Ulaven_Demorte]

No congress can bind another.

They could, at least for awhile, because once the law is passed it couldn't be changed until the Next House election without repealing the 27th entirely.

Try repealing a law like that without getting caught in the ensuing shit-storm.

 

[Sean Renaud]

It would help set a precedent. I'm not saying it will fix the world. Even if it's just symbolic, it could be a selling point on future elections.

Even a symbolic attempt at some level of responsibility would not go amiss. It's not like it's the craziest idea somebody has had this week.

I guess. Like I said I think it will have all the effect of finding Kobe Bryant 10k. He doesn't care and it's not going to change his behavior at all. Fining Congress would barely register to them. Now losing their seats might.

No congress can bind another.

What? Of course they can.

 

[Recidiva]

I guess. Like I said I think it will have all the effect of finding Kobe Bryant 10k. He doesn't care and it's not going to change his behavior at all. Fining Congress would barely register to them. Now losing their seats might.

Two things in politics. Reputation and influence. No, the loss of the money won't affect them. Hit to the reputation is another thing. It might affect their influence.

 

[Sean Renaud]

Two things in politics. Reputation and influence. No, the loss of the money won't affect them. Hit to the reputation is another thing. It might affect their influence.

True enough. It might. I suspect however that based on how Congress seems to function they'd get in, bring in whatever pork they wanted/needed or change whatever law they needed and get out. Still it might work.

Still, I'm that guy who thinks term limits are stupid. I'd much rather career politicians that know how things work than people who can't even stick around and thus have absolutely no reason to do anything for the people.

 

[Recidiva]

True enough. It might. I suspect however that based on how Congress seems to function they'd get in, bring in whatever pork they wanted/needed or change whatever law they needed and get out. Still it might work.

Still, I'm that guy who thinks term limits are stupid. I'd much rather career politicians that know how things work than people who can't even stick around and thus have absolutely no reason to do anything for the people.

I think politics is a very difficult game to play, particularly at this level with these stakes and this much weirdness afoot. I don't think they're immune at all from influence and silly rules and being forced to actually do a day's work every now and then for appearance's sake. Make it harder to compete by highlighting attendance. Cool. It might not affect everyone, but it'll suck to be the one who has the worst attendance. Good.

I want term limits. I love the fact that scheduled coups keep people from getting comfy as president and I would really like to see it happen to the assholes who are on the 'I Make Money For Me' committee for 20 years.

 

[unregistered]

 

[jeninflorida]

This would be awesome! Also no pay for obana or non working government workers

 

[BotanyBoy]

Still, I'm that guy who thinks term limits are stupid. I'd much rather career politicians that know how things work than people who can't even stick around and thus have absolutely no reason to do anything for the people.

I think you're right on...we are pissing up a flag pole with this shit...the politicians actual income isn't shit compared to all the other money flow they get from across the spectrum.

And term limits are stupid, we already have them, they are called elections...if anything term limits are harmful. If someone is really kicking ass we should be able to keep them around as long as they continue to kick ass.

 

[Sean Renaud]

I think politics is a very difficult game to play, particularly at this level with these stakes and this much weirdness afoot. I don't think they're immune at all from influence and silly rules and being forced to actually do a day's work every now and then for appearance's sake. Make it harder to compete by highlighting attendance. Cool. It might not affect everyone, but it'll suck to be the one who has the worst attendance. Good.

I want term limits. I love the fact that scheduled coups keep people from getting comfy as president and I would really like to see it happen to the assholes who are on the 'I Make Money For Me' committee for 20 years.

I don't disagree that it's a difficult game at that level. Like I said earlier I wouldn't stop you from fucking with them I just don't think you'd actually get the desired results out of it. It wouldn't hurt to try of course.

These clowns are loathe to diminish the benefits of their staffs let alone their own.

Most people are.

I think you're right on...we are pissing up a flag pole with this shit...the politicians actual income isn't shit compared to all the other money flow they get from across the spectrum.

And term limits are stupid, we already have them, they are called elections.

Yep. And sure incumbants usually win but obviously that means things are usually going okay.

This would be awesome! Also no pay for obana or non working government workers

Right. . .that's stupid.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Folks are locked and loaded in the panic position but it wont last long once Chelsea Clinton misses a payment for being Americas Lil Darling. Hillary will gnaw Obama a 2nd asshole and things will flow smoothly once more.

 

[BoyNextDoor]

Rep. Rick Nolan (D-Minn.) introduced a bill Tuesday that would block members of Congress from being paid during a government shutdown.

The "No Government – No Pay Act" would stop members from being paid their salaries for as long as a shutdown continues.

"The inability of this Congress to collaborate, compromise, and get things done has led me to introduce legislation to prohibit Members from being paid when failure to do their job results in a government shutdown," Nolan said in a Tuesday statement. "It’s time for Congress to start living in the real world – where you either do your job, or you don’t get paid."

The caveat? It may violate the 27th Amendment which states that no law changing congressional compensation may take effect until an election in the House of Representatives.

Thoughts?

Let the Congress have their pay, but furlough all House and Senate personal staff, staff in the district offices, all committee staff in both houses, the CBO, the GAO and the Printing Office and then shut off all of their Congressional credit cards.

I suspect that would hit them where it hurts and they'd work it out.

 

[Recidiva]

I don't disagree that it's a difficult game at that level. Like I said earlier I wouldn't stop you from fucking with them I just don't think you'd actually get the desired results out of it. It wouldn't hurt to try of course.

Heh. Well, the desired goal right now IS fucking with them.

John Stewart cracked me up. I'm beyond patience and this ridiculous toddler behavior.

"You know New York Giants, who lost 31-7 to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. And you know what the Giants didn't say after that game?'If you don't give us 25 points by midnight on Monday, we will shut down the fucking NFL!' They didn't say that!"