No Pay for Congress - Balanced Budget No Deficit

Congress receives no Pay unless the Budget is balanced. If there is a running deficit (currently 1.9 Trillion for just 2024 and 35 Trillion cumulative) They have to pass a Surplus Budget (Spending less than it takes in) in order to receive Pay. We have to start having accountability to reckless spending. Solution should never be to print more money, this only devalues Americans current hard earned money and does not resolve key root issues.

Budgets needs to be agreed upon at least a month before submittal to avoid delays.
Social Security funds can not be used for anything other than Social Security. Any funds that were removed to pay for other categories needs to be returned.

Added Items from Comments:

Summary of Comments
  • If balanced budget is not achieved ALL sitting members of Congress become ineligible for reelection
  • No laws can be added to the books without meeting a balanced budget
  • Within balancing powers executive and judicial branches can approve deficit in case of a major or declared national emergency. In this scenario however, Congress will still not receive payment as the budget will not be balanced.
  • Money allotments should not be redistributed on a whim. Dedicated funds once approved for a specific category should not be allowed to be redistributed.

Please Participate in Poll Below Thanks!

  • I agree - Budget must Balance and No Deficit (Some Exceptions)
  • I agree - Budget must Balance and No Deficit (No Exceptions)
  • Congress should always receive compensation regardless of Budget and Deficit Results
  • Congress should never receive compensation - Service to America!
0 voters
14 Likes

Agree. Money allotments should not be redistributed on whim. FEMA taking care of illegals. The President should have a small amount to do with what he wants. He should not have the right to move it from one pot to another.

4 Likes

The only exception should be in the case of a major, declared national emergency. i.e., a major war where the US is directly involved.

3 Likes

Then we will always be in a war, you give them an out and they will take it. Just like Federal Income Tax was only supposed to be in place “In Time of war” well, ever since they started collecting Federal Income Tax that has never gone away. Just like our own bank accounts, we plan for a “rainy day” for emergencies. We need to run at a surplus to cover times of war, not further bury ourselves in more debt. As a nation we will be stronger. It’s the hard thing to do, but it is the responsible thing to do, not only for us but for future generations.

6 Likes

I understand your concern. However, there certainly can be some major crises arise that would require temporary deficit spending. The issue is to so tightly constrain it that it can’t be done frivolously.

2 Likes

I’d add that no laws can be added to the books without meeting this condition.

3 Likes

Yes! And if a balanced budget is not achieved, the ALL sitting members of Congress become ineligible for reelection.

5 Likes

Make Omnibus Bills illegal. Line by line authorization.

3 Likes

We would see a HUGE contraction in the money supply if this were to happen, a depression would be guaranteed.

1 Like

Love the idea,
Let’s also make them clean up their mess before adding more regulations:

2 Likes

Start one step at a time, the direction of deficit/surplus can’t be deficit every year. Congress needs an incentive to actually come up with a real plan instead of pushing the easy button and adding more debt every year. Deficit won’t be erased in one year, but annual budgets need to start being a surplus so we can move in the right direction.

1 Like

Exception should only be if we are attacked and must go to war.

1 Like

Recessions are a natural and necessary part of the business cycle.

The crazy thing is government trying to pump in cash to entirely offset them. It only hurts the poor who do not have assets that rise with inflation vs those who hold property and stock that does. The net effect of inflation is inverse to progressive policy.

2 Likes

This sounds good but the reality is this would play right into the hands of corporate interests who would be happy to continue lining the pockets of politicians

There doesn’t need to be a no pay provision, all that is required is legislation that a balanced budget is required and if the budget isn’t balanced then items are triggered such as a federal government hiring freeze, freeze on pay & benefits increases, and so on

This opens Congress to bribery even more so than they already are. I prefer Warren Buffets’s proposal that they are not eligible for rell-election if the ran a deficit.