To Break Budget Gridlock, Cooper Wants to Dock Congressional Pay

Nashville Democrat Jim Cooper has teamed up with a GOP senator and introduced legislation that would tie congressional pay to job performance.

“It’s very important that members get the message: do your work, or you don’t get paid.”

Specifically, the bill would keep members of Congress from getting a paycheck after missing deadlines for any budget and appropriations bills. The legislation also does not allow for back pay.

Speaking to a gathering of citizens brainstorming about partisan gridlock, Cooper said the country can’t afford to be late paying its bills when its credit rating is at risk. His Republican co-sponsor for the No Budget, No Pay Act is Sen. Dean Heller of Nevada.

The legislation – if adopted by a deeply divided congress – would go into effect in 2013. That would be after the next election cycle, a requirement under the 27th Amendment to change pay rates for congress.