Congressman Tim Griffin (AR-02) issued the following statement after House passage of the No Budget, No Pay Act (H.R. 325):
“President Obama’s allies in the Senate haven’t passed a budget in nearly four years. Arkansans know that budgets make you prioritize where you put your money, and that if you don’t do your job, you shouldn’t be paid for it. I agree, and that’s why I support this common-sense step to bringing Washington’s spending under control and preventing America’s looming debt crisis and credit rating downgrade.”
Today is the 1,365th day that the Senate has not passed a budget. The House has passed one every year Griffin has served. H.R. 325 would require the House and Senate to pass a budget resolution by April 15, 2013. If either body fails to do so, Members of that body will have their pay withheld until a budget is passed. It also extends the federal government’s borrowing authority through May 19, 2013, but only for what is necessary to “fund…commitment[s] incurred by the federal government that [require] payment before May 19, 2013.”
Since President Obama’s first inauguration, the national debt has increased by more than $5.8 trillion – reaching a new record of $16.4 trillion.
Griffin cosponsored similar No Budget, No Pay legislation in the previous Congress.
