No Budget, No Pay Act
Summary
The "No Budget, No Pay Act" (H.R. 5738) aims to ensure timely congressional approval of the federal budget. It stipulates that Members of Congress will not receive pay after October 1 of any fiscal year if Congress has not approved a concurrent budget resolution and passed regular appropriations bills. The bill defines key terms and outlines the process for determining compliance, tasking the House and Senate Budget and Appropriations Chairs with making these determinations.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of this bill would be to incentivize Congress to complete the budget process on time. Failure to do so would result in a suspension of pay for Members of Congress. This could lead to more timely budget approvals and potentially reduce the likelihood of government shutdowns.
Potential Benefits
- Could lead to more responsible and timely budget practices in Congress.
- May reduce the frequency of government shutdowns and related economic disruptions.
- Could increase public trust in government by holding elected officials accountable for budget deadlines.
- Could encourage more bipartisan cooperation in the budget process.
- May lead to a more efficient allocation of federal resources.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Could create an incentive for Congress to pass budgets quickly without sufficient deliberation.
- May disproportionately affect Members of Congress with lower personal wealth.
- Could lead to political gridlock if members refuse to compromise, resulting in delayed budgets and unpaid members.
- The determination process relies on the Budget and Appropriations Chairs, potentially introducing bias.
- The Act does not address the underlying reasons for budget delays, focusing solely on the consequence.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's constitutionality rests on Congress's power to regulate its own affairs, as implied by Article I, Section 5, which states that "Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings." However, the 27th Amendment states "No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened." This bill could be seen as varying compensation, but it is arguably a penalty for failing to perform a duty rather than a direct change in salary.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).