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'No budget, no pay' advances despite reservations

114 days ago

By ANDREW TAYLOR
Associated Press

(AP:WASHINGTON) In an earlier era, the House Republicans' "no budget, no pay" proposal probably would have been dismissed as a gimmick.

Withholding pay from members of Congress until they pass a budget favors wealthy lawmakers who can afford to have their $174,000 salaries withheld.

It's unfair to those in the House and Senate minorities who have little say in whether a budget passes or not.

Also, it may be unconstitutional.

But with Congress' approval ratings in the gutter, House lawmakers breezed past those questions, among others, approved the idea and sent it to the Senate.

Despite bipartisan concerns in the Senate, the proposal is expected to pass in the coming week as it's attached to a must-pass measure to increase the government's borrowing cap.

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