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U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn: Fine Congress members during government shutdowns [1]
['Robin Opsahl', 'More From Author', '- September']
Date: 2023-09-27
Members of Congress shouldn’t get paid during a federal government shutdown — but military personnel should, U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn says.
Nunn, a Republican representing Iowa’s 3rd District, introduced two pieces of legislation Wednesday aimed at discouraging a government shutdown. The “No Work, No Pay” act would fine Congress members for the equivalent of one day of pay for each day of a shutdown. The “People Before Politics” act would prohibit federal lawmakers from election fundraising during a shutdown.
Lawmakers are currently approaching a partial government shutdown. The fiscal year ends Saturday, the deadline for Congress and President Joe Biden to approve a government spending measure. The two pieces of legislation would serve as a “good forcing mechanism” for legislators to pass appropriations bills before shutdowns occur, Nunn said.
“It’s also a good reminder that, you know, you came to D.C. to do a job, and you only get paid when you’re doing your job,” Nunn told the Iowa Capital Dispatch Wednesday. “Shutting down the government, in my opinion, is not doing your job.”
Nunn won election in 2022 against Democratic incumbent Cindy Axne. As he serves in his first term in Congress, Nunn said his goal was to bring “financial responsibility” to Washington by implementing conservative spending strategies in like those he supported as a state lawmaker.
Iowa Democrats called this week for the state’s all-Republican congressional delegation to focus on bipartisan solutions to avoid a government shutdown. Nunn said he believed Congress would see “real success” on budget negotiations this week, potentially moving on agriculture, defense, homeland security and state department appropriations bills in the House.
“In an ideal world, we would have seen this happen, you know weeks ago,” Nunn said. “But we are committed — a number particularly of the veteran freshman class — to making sure these bills move forward this week, so that we can really do what we’re supposed to do: be a fighter for the American people, curb spending and make sure critical services for Iowans … are still provided to you, foremost amongst them, the defense of the country.”
But if a government shutdown does occur, Nunn said he was committed to moving forward on the payment and fundraising suspension bills, as well as the “Pay Our Troops” act. Nunn introduced the legislation alongside Rep. Jen Kiggans, a Virginia Republican, earlier this month, to ensure military members, as well as defense civilian employees and contractors, continue to be paid during shutdowns.
Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said Tuesday that Iowa’s representatives make up four of the five votes in the House that could “avert this crisis,” calling for them to reach a bipartisan solution with the Democrat-controlled Senate and President Joe Biden.
Nunn said he was willing to work with anyone, Democrat or Republican, in either chamber, who was willing to do a “honest review of our spending” and who would work to rein in the “post-COVID explosion of federal dollars.” He said Congress’ spending choices in previous years have led to higher inflation, and that reduced spending is necessary to help the U.S. economy recover.
“Interest rates are going through the roof, because we tried to get inflation under control — that hurts first-time homebuyers,” he said. “The cost of everyday goods, from bread and butter to fuels, have all gone up. And that in my opinion, is a direct reflection of unchecked federal spending. I think that there are real allies, particularly the Iowa delegation, that are committed to saying, ‘We have got to rein this in and be far more responsible.'”
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[1] Url:
https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2023/09/27/u-s-rep-zach-nunn-fine-congress-members-during-government-shutdowns/
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