In another potentially terrific move from a relatively unknown congressman, Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO) pushed hard for Congressional pay to be withheld until the various feuding factions in Congress strike a spending deal. He argued that since various critical agents of the state go without pay during a spending shutdown, such as troops, Congress should have to face a similar fate
As background, a shutdown started on the night of Tuesday, September 30, as the Senate was unable to come to an agreement on spending, with the Trump Administration and key Republican leaders alleging that the Democrats are trying to foist immense amounts of irresponsible and radical spending on the country.
Republicans, showing some spine for once, refused to go along with it, and so now there is a shutdown. During the shutdown, members of Congress will continue to be paid, but many other federal employees, from bureaucrats to members of the US armed forces, will go without pay for the duration of the shutdown.
Such is what Rep. Gabe Evans argued in a press release and letter to the Chief Administrative Officer of the House, Catherine Szpindor, arguing that members of Congress should not be able to get a paycheck for not striking a spending deal even as America’s farmers, federal agents, and troops go without pay.
Beginning the press release, the congressman’s office wrote that he is demanding Congressional pay be withheld to rectify that, saying, “With a government shutdown fast approaching, Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08) today formally requested that his pay be withheld until full government funding is restored.”
Commenting on the situation, the congressman said, “If Senate Democrats force our troops to work without pay, Congress should be held to the same standard. I’m calling on my colleagues in the Senate to pass the House’s continuing resolution instead of holding our government hostage over a wishlist of radical spending demands.”
Further, he said, commenting on how the Democrats are pushing in a way that means troops will go without pay, saying, “I’ve been a cop and solider the majority of my adult life. Like other working-class families, I rely on my paycheck to feed my kids and pay my mortgage. As a public servant, I will stand in solidarity with my military brothers and sisters and other federal employees who will be without a paycheck until Democrats agree to open the government.”
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And, commenting on the sort of very important projects and critically important federal employees who will go without pay because of this imbroglio, he said, “If Senate Democrats continue to reject the House-passed bill, the consequences for Colorado families will be severe: Servicemembers and DoD civilians in Colorado will miss paychecks. Staffing gaps at TSA and FAA could lead to delays and longer lines at Denver International Airport. Coloradans who rely on nutrition assistance could face processing delays if the shutdown drags on. The Small Business Administration would suspend new loans, impacting rural businesses and farmers mid-harvest. While existing VA benefits would continue short-term, new claims and appeals for Colorado veterans would face significant slowdowns.”
Watch JD Vance comment on the general situation here: