Millions of federal workers won’t get paid during a government shutdown. But the people who could prevent or end a shutdown — members of Congress — will still receive a paycheck.

That’s because their pay is protected under Article I, Section 6 of the Constitution, which states: “The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States.”

The Constitution “says members will be paid,” Rep. Joe Morelle of New York, the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee, explained to reporters Tuesday.

  • krashmo@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    Cool, now use this kind of logic to protect the pay of federal employees during shutdowns.

    • Bronzebeard@lemmy.zip
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      8 hours ago

      Why the fuck do our budgets even expire?

      This just gives the people who want to destroy everything all the cards. If they can’t agree on a new one, let the old one continue. It shouldn’t be as simple as not doing anything to break literally everything.

    • HubertManne@piefed.social
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      2 days ago

      Yup. All salaries should be paid but no buying anything and all buildings shutdown with utilities off. All current equippment should be considered to have a lean on them to cover us obligations and can’t be used.