Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                                       June 22, 2012

CONTACT:                                                                            Apryl Marie Fogel
                                                                                    AprylMarie.Fogel@mail.house.gov

Congressman Gosar Cosponsors “No Budget, No Pay Act”

Earlier this week, U.S. Congressman Paul Gosar, D.D.S (R-AZ) cosponsored the No Budget, No Pay Act (H.R. 3643).  This common sense legislation simply states that if members do not pass a concurrent budget resolution and all 12 annual spending bills before the start of the fiscal year, they will not receive their official salaries.

Paul Gosar, D.D.S said, “As a dentist and small business owner, I know that if an employee does not do their job, he or she does not get paid. Members of Congress were elected to do a job and the same rule should apply to us if we can’t get it done.  This is why I support the “No Budget, No Pay Act” (H.R. 3643).”

“Passing a budget is Congress’ primary constitutional responsibility; taxpayers should not foot the bill for a do-nothing Senate that has lost touch with hard working Americans. As with most Americans across our nation, I find the partisan gridlock in Washington, D.C. to be frustrating and detrimental to the future of our country.  While I am proud to have voted for legislation that cuts billions of dollars from the federal budget, I’m increasingly frustrated that those same bills sit in the U.S. Senate collecting dust,” Congressman Gosar concluded.   

The bill’s sponsor Representative Cooper (D-TN) said, “Because America's credit rating is threatened, Congress cannot afford to be late paying its bills. Threatening to stop paying Congress is the surest way to make sure we beat the annual Oct. 1 deadline. Congress must get its work done, or get no paycheck.”

“Congressman Gosar’s sponsorship of No Budget, No Pay proves that he’s serious about getting Congress working again,” said No Labels Co-Founder Mark McKinnon. “For the average American, if you don’t work, you don’t get paid. Rep. Gosar’s support shows that he believes Congress should be held to the same standard. The result of failing to pass a budget on time is a more wasteful and inefficient government. The No Budget, No Pay Act is a great idea to fix this problem, and Mr. Gosar’s support makes it one step closer to becoming a great law.”

James Valvo, Director of  Government Affairs for Americans for Prosperity said of the bill, “This sends a strong message to all 535 Members of Congress: do your job, honestly tackle the challenge of federal budgeting, or you won’t get that paycheck paid for by U.S. taxpayers.”

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