Congress proposes holding its own pay hostage to force budget deals
H.J.Res. 7 — Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to prohibit Members of Congress from receiving compensation during a fiscal year unless both Houses of Congress have agreed to a concurrent resolution on the budget for that fiscal year prior to the beginning of that fiscal year. · Filed by Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) · 1 cosponsor · Introduced Jan 3, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This proposed constitutional amendment would prohibit members of Congress from receiving their salaries during any fiscal year unless both the House and Senate have agreed on a concurrent budget resolution before that fiscal year begins. It is a leverage mechanism designed to force Congress to complete budget negotiations by withholding pay from all members until a budget agreement is reached.
Why we flagged it
The bill is a structural constitutional amendment designed to create financial consequences for Congress's failure to pass budgets on schedule. It is not a substantive policy change but rather a procedural enforcement tool targeting legislative behavior.
What the text implies
- The amendment creates a hostage-taking dynamic: members could be pressured to accept unfavorable budget provisions (cuts to popular programs, tax changes, spending riders) under threat of lost income, potentially reducing deliberative quality.
- A concurrent budget resolution is non-binding; this amendment ties member compensation to a procedural step that does not legally commit spending. Congress could pass a resolution and then ignore it via appropriations bills.
The full analysis lists 5 implications of this text.
Who it affects
The amendment creates a structural incentive for Congress to pass budgets on time, which could reduce fiscal brinkmanship and government shutdowns—a potential public benefit. However, it also creates a hostage-taking mechanism where members can be pressured into accepting unfavorable budget terms under threat of lost income, and it may incentivize rushed, poorly-scrutinized budgets to meet artificial deadlines.