Rep. Tom Rooney Co-Sponsors 'No Budget, No Pay' Bill

U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Tequesta, announced Wednesday that he is co-sponsoring "No Budget, No Pay" legislation that would block members' pay if Congress misses deadlines for budget and appropriations bills.

Year after year, Congress misses important deadlines and puts off until the last minute bills that must pass to keep the government open, Rooney said. The Senate hasnt even written a budget in three years. Its no wonder the only thing worse than our credit rating is our approval rating."

HR 3643, sponsored by Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., is part of a "Get Congress to Work" initiative by the bipartisan No Labels group.

My constituents know that if they dont do their jobs, they wont get paid -- and theyre right to expect the same from their representatives in Washington," Rooney said.

Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Tallahassee, was the first Florida lawmaker to sign on to the legislation. None of Florida's Democratic congressmen have done so.

Last summer, Rooney co-sponsored the Stop Pay for Members Act, HR 2653, which would prohibit members of Congress from receiving pay during a default and would not allow for that pay to be recouped retroactively.

Rooney has also supported legislation to prevent Congress from receiving automatic pay raises.