House Democrats don’t want their paychecks anymore

Four Democrats filed bills on Wednesday that would cut or eliminate lawmaker pay under certain circumstances.

One bill from Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, would cut lawmaker pay by 10 percent and end the automatic pay hikes for members of Congress. He said too many people are suffering to keep lawmaker pay so high — rank-and-file members of the House make $174,000, and leadership posts command even higher salaries.

“I believe that those elected to serve shouldn’t be in it to line their own pockets, which is why it is time to cut members’ pay and stop the automatic increases that take place,” Loebsack said. “And with the fiscal mess that our nation continues to face, we have to show our constituents that we have the personal fiscal discipline needed to reform our budget process. The American people deserve better.”

Reps. Rick Nolan, D-Minn., and Kurt Schrader, D-Ore., each proposed a bill Wednesday that would chop lawmaker pay in the event of a partial government shutdown. That could happen in late April, if Congress doesn’t agree to extend federal funding.

Nolan’s bill would prohibit lawmakers from being paid when the government is shut down, while Schrader’s would reduce member paychecks if there’s a shutdown.

“It’s time for Congress to start living in the real world, where you either do your job or you don’t get paid,” Nolan said. “If hundreds of thousands of other federal employees are to go without their salaries then the Congress should not be paid either.”

Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., proposed legislation Wednesday that would block lawmaker pay after Oct. 1 of any fiscal year in which Congress hasn’t approved a budget.

“Congress is the only place in America where you get paid for showing up but not doing your work,” he said. “There shouldn’t be special treatment for members of Congress.”

“They should live by the same rules as everybody else: Do your job and do it on time, or you don’t get paid,” he said. “It’s that simple.”