Exclusive: GOP Rep. Norman introduces plan to withhold, cut lawmaker pay until Congress funds gov't

Republican South Carolina Rep. Ralph Norman introduce a plan Thursday to withhold and gradually cut lawmaker pay while the government operations under funded by a continuing resolution.

The Senate on Tuesday voted to advance a continuing budget resolution that would keep the government funded through to Dec. 16. The continuing resolution on which they voted is a stopgap measure meant to avert a government shutdown and buy Congress more time to come up with a final budget.

Norman's bill aims to incentivize a more expeditious approach to government budget by penalizing lawmakers for keeping the government running on stopgap measures.

The "No Pay for Congressional Recklessness Act," a copy of which Just the News has exclusively obtained, would withhold pay from lawmakers and reduce their pay by 1% for every day during which the government operates under a continuing resolution.

Moreover, it would prohibit lawmakers from using government funds for travel except to come to Washington, D.C., or in the instance of a national emergency.

"Congress is preparing to pass yet another continuing resolution later this week," a spokesperson for Norman told Just the News. "This will be the 26th consecutive year in which Congress has not funded the government on time with all appropriations bills and the 5th year in a row in which not a single funding bill has been signed into law by the start of the fiscal year."

The continuing resolution on the table this week has been the subject of a good deal of drama due to its initial inclusion of an energy permitting reform plan from West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin. In a widely panned backroom deal, Manchin agreed to vote in favor of the $740 billion Inflation Reduction Act in exchange for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer including his reform in the budget resolution.

Opposition from Republicans and Democrats alike, however, forced Manchin to pull the reform from the final measure to ensure the temporary budget's clearing the Senate.

Norman's bill would apply to the current, 117th Congress. Other Republican lawmakers, however, have put forward alternative plans to ensure the legislature commits to routine, on-time budget drafting.

Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie proposed on the "John Solomon Reports" podcast earlier this week that he would create a measure by which the government would be funded at 95% of the previous year's level should Congress fail to reach a budget consensus before the deadline.

"I would pass a continuing resolution to fund all of government at 95% of last year's level," he said. "If you do nothing, then the nickel plan kicks in, and everything gets funded, but 5% less than last year."