With an almost-certain government shutdown occurring over the next few days, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R) has requested that the Chief Administration Officer (CAO) of the U.S. House of Representatives, Catherine Szpindor, not pay him until lawmakers find a solution to financial crisis the government faces.
In other words, no pay for him until the government is fully funded.
Rep. Gaetz puts the blame for not having the funding in place squarely on the shoulders of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who he says has failed to bring to a vote spending measures that would have prevented a shutdown.
“It is my understanding that pursuant to the Constitution, members of Congress will continue to receive their pay during a lapse in appropriations. Therefore, I am requesting that in the case of a lapse of appropriations beginning at 12:00 a.m. on October 1, 2023, my pay be withheld until legislation has taken effect to end such lapse in appropriations in its entirety,” stated Rep. Gaetz in a letter.
Other Republican lawmakers like Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R) have been pressing for more sane government oversight on spending.
"I think at this hour, we need to be thinking about funding the government in a responsible way, showing the American people that we need to do the same thing we are asking our children and our family members to do: do not spend more than you earn," said Rep. Salazar.
