54 Republicans and 47 Democrats of Congress.
“I think that the politicians just need to show that they would be in favor of doing something, it’s the first step,” says Oregon resident Elaine Schlecter.
Taking a step, by saying if more than 800,000 federal employees are not getting paid, they don’t want to be either.
They say they plan to donate or refuse compensation earned over the course of the impasse.
But what about the more than 400 others
“I think it’s criminal that the legislation can close the government down but they pay themselves, it’s obscene,” says Ashland resident Darell.
We tried to get in touch with our Senators, but we got these messages on their voicemails.
“This is Sen. Jeff Merkley thank you for calling my office due to the federal government shutdown most staff have been furloughed and are unavailable to answer your call.”
“Thank you for calling Sen. Ron Wydens office due to the government shutdown many of our staff have been furloughed.”
Oregon Representative Kurt Schrader is one of the hundred who is declining a paycheck.
He told constituents in a statement that quote “I firmly believe that if members of congress fail to perform their most basic duty in passing a budget, then they do not deserve to be paid. It is in that vein that I will be donating the congressional salary I collect during the shutdown to a local Oregon charity to be named later. Its time for congress to get its act together.
“I think that it’s admirable..That they are willing to give up their own paychecks,” says Darell.
Legislators get the choice to receive their paycheck.
But for the thousands of federal employees barred from their workplace, when they get theirs is in the hands of Congress.
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