Jared Golden sponsors bill to withhold congressional pay during shutdowns

Following the five-week closure of much of the federal government, U.S. Rep. Jared Golden has introduced a bipartisan measure that calls for withholding the pay of members of Congress, the president and vice president during a government shutdown.

The Solidarity in Salary Act of 2019 "will help prevent the American people from being political pawns for party leaders and help return sanity to the task of funding the government," the 2nd District Maine Democrat said in a prepared statement Tuesday.

Golden is introducing the bill along with Reps. Dan Crenshaw, a Texas Republican, and Max Rose, a New York Democrat. All three are newcomers to the U.S. House.

Golden said that "federal workers don't get paid during a government shutdown. Neither should politicians."

"Federal employees should never have to carry the burden caused by a dysfunctional government; that's why I'm proud to cosponsor this legislation," Crenshaw said.

"Only in a town as broken as Washington do you still get paid when you don't do your job," said Rose. "That's wrong, and it's past time to make it right."

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