BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – A number of people have written into WCAX, asking about who gets paid during a government shutdown, and today, we’re getting answers.
Teigh wrote in, asking, “Is Congress going without pay like the rest of the government? If not, why?”
Congress does continue to get paid during the shutdown.
The reason is because of how their pay is treated under the U.S. Constitution and federal law. Article I, Section 6 of the U.S. Constitution states: “The senators and representatives shall receive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States.”
Lawmakers’ pay has been funded by a permanent appropriation since 1983, meaning funding for their pay doesn’t need to be renewed annually and remains unaffected by the shutdown.
Not every lawmaker thinks it’s a good thing, though. Vermont Rep. Becca Balint says she finds it unfair.
“You know what, I am (getting paid), and it’s wrong. It’s absolutely wrong that members of Congress get paid in a shutdown. It should never be this way. And going forward, that needs to change because right now, my staff is here, working without pay. It’s wrong,” Balint said.
Do you have a question you want us to answer? Email us at getting answers@wcax.com, and we’ll see what we can do for you.
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