Barrett Defers Pay as Democrats Threaten to Shut Down the Government

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) directed the House of Representatives to withhold his pay should a lapse in appropriations result in a shutdown of the federal government at midnight tonight.  

Barrett noted that more than 5,000 federal employees live in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, none of whom would be paid throughout the duration of the shutdown. Additionally, troops and federal law enforcement officers would be forced to put their safety on the line without a paycheck.

“Members of Congress shouldn’t get paid while our federal employees and troops on the front lines go without,” said Barrett. “If Democrats shut down the government tonight, I’ll be withholding my pay until we get it back open for the American people. I voted with conviction to keep the government open. It’s time for Senate Democrats to put people before politics and do the same.”

Click here to read Barrett’s full letter to the House’s Chief Administrative Officer Catherine Szpindor.

Background:

Government funding expires tonight at midnight. On September 19, Congressman Barrett helped pass a clean continuing resolution (H.R. 5371) that would fund the federal government for seven weeks. It also provides additional resources for the protection of public officials at a time of unprecedented political violence in America. This legislation requires 60 votes to pass in the U.S. Senate, which has allowed Democrats to block it from reaching President Trump’s desk.

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