Peters Rejects Shutdown Pay

Press Release

Representative Gary Peters today called on leaders of both parties to put an end to partisan gamesmanship and work together to pass a responsible budget that reduces spending and avoids a government shutdown.

If a deal is not reached by midnight, Peters will not accept pay for the duration of a government shutdown and will donate any salary he receives to local charities.

"A government shutdown doesn't solve anything, it just makes American families suffer while politicians grandstand and kick the problem down the road. This kind of political bickering is exactly what's wrong with Washington, and it's long past time for Democrats and Republicans to pass a responsible, bipartisan agreement to cut the deficit," said Representative Gary Peters. "I'm going to keep working around the clock to pass a responsible budget, but as long as our troops and government employees aren't getting paid, Congress shouldn't get paid either, and I will be donating my own pay to charity."

Rep. Gary Peters has led the fight to hold lawmakers accountable for the federal budget by blocking congressional pay in the event of a shutdown. Under current law, even if other government departments close and federal workers are furloughed, Members of Congress would continue to receive their own paychecks.

Last Friday, House Republicans defeated a measure co-authored by Peters to stop lawmakers' pay during a shutdown. Peters continued pushing for a total ban on Congressional pay if other government operations are forced to close. When the House failed to act on Peters' initiative, he elected to donate any pay he receives during a shutdown to charity to help local families.

A government shutdown would have a major impact on many American families and small businesses. One of Rep. Peters' top priorities over the past two years has been restarting small business lending to help local businesses get access to capital. If government shuts down, Small Business Administration (SBA) lending programs would come to a halt, placing an added strain on small businesses already coping with tight budgets.

Government employees, including military personnel, would not receive pay during a shutdown. Social Security, Medicare, and veterans' benefits claims could be delayed, passport and visa applications would be put on hold, and small business and home mortgage lending programs would stop processing new loans. Additionally, at a time of year when many families heading out on vacation over spring break, national parks, museums and monuments would close.

Representative Gary Peters has personally led several efforts this year to forge bipartisan compromise on spending cuts. Peters teamed up with Republican Rep. Cory Gardner from Colorado to introduce two measures aimed at cutting unnecessary government programs -- and Peters' first legislative initiative of the year, an amendment to ensure that program savings are used for deficit reduction, passed with bipartisan support.

Peters has a proven record of bipartisan cooperation. In its annual Congressional rankings, the independent publication National Journal rated Rep. Gary Peters as the most moderate member of the Michigan delegation for the second year in a row.

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