No Pay for Disarray Act This bill eliminates one day of pay for each Member of the House of Representatives for any day of a Congress during which no Speaker has been elected.
Impact
If enacted, this bill would have a significant effect on how pay is distributed to House members during Congress. It stipulates that for each day the House has not elected a Speaker, members would have their pay reduced by the equivalent of one day’s salary, effectively making it a financial incentive for prompt leadership election. This change aims to curtail instances of disarray within the House and encourage a more efficient start to legislative sessions.
Summary
House Bill 141, titled the ‘No Pay for Disarray Act’, proposes to implement a salary reduction for Members of the House of Representatives if a Speaker is not elected by the end of the first day of a Congress. The objective of the bill is to promote accountability within the House and ensure that members fulfill their responsibilities in a timely manner. It is a response to the frustrations surrounding the prolonged periods during which the House has been unable to elect a Speaker, which can delay legislative work and governance.
Contention
While the proposal to reduce pay for congressional representatives under specific conditions may seem straightforward, it raises discussions about the appropriateness and potential consequences of such measures. Critics may argue that financial penalties could unfairly target members who have no control over the political dynamics affecting the election of the Speaker, as well as question whether the legislation addresses underlying issues of governance within Congress. Proponents, on the other hand, believe that holding representatives accountable through financial implications will incentivize them to prioritize their duties and work towards effective governance.
This resolution informs the Senate that a quorum of the House of Representatives has assembled, that Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana has been elected Speaker, and that Kevin McCumber has been elected Clerk of the House of Representatives of the 119th Congress.
This resolution provides for the President to be informed that Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana has been elected as Speaker and Kevin McCumber has been elected as Clerk of the House of Representatives of the 119th Congress.
Inaction Has Consequences Act This bill withholds the salaries of Members of a chamber of Congress that has not passed each of the annual appropriations bills before the beginning of the fiscal year, beginning with FY2024. Salaries are released on the earlier of (1) the date on which the chamber of Congress passes the bills, or (2) the last day of the Congress.
No Budget, No Pay Act This bill withholds the salaries of Members of a chamber of Congress that has not agreed to a budget resolution for FY2024 by April 15, 2023, as required by the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Salaries are withheld from April 16, 2023, until the earlier of (1) the day on which the chamber of Congress agrees to a budget resolution, or (2) the last day of the 118th Congress.
No Pay Raise for Congress Act This bill cancels the automatic adjustment to the pay of Members of Congress that is based on the employment cost index if the Congressional Budget Office determines that there was a federal budget deficit in the last fiscal year.
Inaction Has Consequences Act This bill withholds the salaries of Members of a chamber of Congress that has not passed each of the annual appropriations bills before the beginning of the fiscal year, beginning with FY2024. Salaries are released on the earlier of (1) the date on which the chamber of Congress passes the bills, or (2) the last day of the Congress.
No Budget, No Pay Act This bill withholds the salaries of Members of a chamber of Congress that has not agreed to a budget resolution for FY2024 by April 15, 2023, as required by the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Salaries are withheld from April 16, 2023, until the earlier of (1) the day on which the chamber of Congress agrees to a budget resolution, or (2) the last day of the 118th Congress.
Troops Before Politicians ActThis bill withholds the pay of Members of Congress if active service members of the Armed Forces are not receiving pay, including as a result of a lapse in appropriations (i.e., a government shutdown). The withheld pay of Members must be deposited into an escrow account and released when the military lapse in pay ends.
To provide a per diem allowance for Members of Congress for the costs of lodging, meals, and incidental expenses incurred because of travel to and from the Washington Metropolitan Area in order to cast votes in Congress, and for other purposes.
Budget Process Enhancement Act This bill modifies the federal budget process to withhold the salaries of Members of Congress and cancel the salaries of certain employees of the Office of Management and Budget when certain budget process requirements are not met. The bill also changes the assumptions that the Congressional Budget Office uses to calculate its baseline for discretionary spending to eliminate certain adjustments for inflation and other factors. (A baseline is a projection of federal spending and receipts during a fiscal year under current law.)