U.S. CONGRESS – U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Congressman Greg Gianforte today introduced their first bill of the 116th Congress, the Balanced Budget Accountability Act, to strengthen accountability in Washington, D.C.
“It’s long overdue that members of Congress are held accountable for their dysfunction in government funding,” Daines said. “Just like every hardworking Montana family and small business across this country – members of Congress shouldn’t get paid until they balance the budget.”
“With out-of-control spending digging our country into a deeper hole, Congress has to stop digging and show some fiscal discipline,” Gianforte said. “Hardworking Montana families make their ends meet, and the federal government should be no different. Just as members of Congress shouldn’t get paid during a shutdown, they shouldn’t get paid if they can’t balance the budget.”
The Balanced Budget Accountability Act encourages members of Congress to commit to the annual budget process as required by law and pass budgets that balance within ten years.
Background:
Daines also introduced this legislation as his first bill in the 115th and 114th Congress in the U.S. Senate, and in the 113th Congress while serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Gianforte also introduced this legislation in the 115th Congress on his first day in office as a United States Representative.
On January 6, 2019, Daines asked the Secretary of Senate to withhold his pay during the ongoing partial shutdown of the federal government.
On January 3, 2019, Gianforte asked House officials to withhold his pay for as long as the partial government shutdown lasts.
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