Members Of Congress Begin To Forfeit Pay In Response To Shutdown

By Joey Palacios
October 01, 2013
Rep.
Rep. Ted Cruz (R-Texas)

The federal government has shut down, causing thousands of government workers to go without pay for its duration.

Many have called on members of Congress to give up their pay for not passing a budget, and one of the major players in the shut down has agreed.

Several members of Congress have agreed to forfeit their salaries due to the federal government being in gridlock. The most recent is Texas Senator Ted Cruz. He was recently in the national spotlight for holding a 21-hour filibuster-style marathon on the Senate floor in opposition to the Affordable Care Act.

When asked by a reporter if he would give up his salary, the Associated Press reports that Cruz initially declined the notion, saying he had no intention of doing so.

In a statement late Monday, Cruz backtracked and said he would give his pay to charity for every day the government is shut down.

Cruz also placed the blame of the stalled federal offices on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for refusing to negotiate with the Republican-controlled House.

Other members of Congress who have forfeited their pay include fellow Texas Senator John Cornyn, Senator Sherrod Brown, and numerous members of the House of Representatives.