EDITORIAL - On 4 October, Congressmen Dan Lungren (R-California) and Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) introduced the Government Shutdown Prevention Act (H. R. 3583). This legislation would provide for the continued funding of the government in the event of a budget impasse in Congress. This would avert the expensive, inconvenient, and embarrassing "shutdown" of government activity if no budget is passed.

But this act would do nothing to compel Congress to pass a budget, or the President to sign it. In fact, with no discernible consequences to a budget impasse, this act would encourage budget wrangling in perpetuity.

If we really desire to compel members of Congress to do their jobs, the answer is not to insulate them from the consequences with an automatic continuing resolution. Rather, we should ensure that members of Congress personally and quantifiably suffer the consequences of an unfinished budget. The best way to achieve this is by docking their pay.

Members of Congress are paid $165,200 per year, $183,500 for majority and minority leaders, and $212,100 for House speaker Nancy Pelosi. Enacting a budget is one of the very few tangible ways to measure whether or not Congress is doing its job. When the old budget expires without a new budget agreement, Congress failed. Congressmen should not be rewarded for their failures.

Let’s just pro-rate that six figure Congressional salary, and deduct a day’s pay for every day the government goes without a budget. That’s $452.60 per day lost–not deferred, just deducted from the pay check Uncle Sam signs. These days, when Congressmen inexplicably become wealthy in the nation’s service, $452.60 doesn’t sound like much. But multiplied by 435 representatives and 100 Senators, that comes to over $242,000 per day–a token amount, but certainly a contribution to the national coffers.

To further incentivize our public servants, during the time the rest of the country is struggling without a budget, members of Congress should forego their other benefits. That means no subsidized meals in the Congressional dining rooms; no government-provided transport in chauffeur-driven SUV’s or military aircraft, no access to government-provided premium health care. The government also pays for Congressional staffers and office space. If these are necessary for our representatives to agree on a budget, each representative should reimburse the government for those expenses incurred during the period when the nation is without a budget.

For those who believe this penalty is too severe (other than members of Congress, who are unlikely to be persuaded in any event), try to recall the last time you saw a Senator or representative depicted in the media while discharging his duties, and said to yourself, "Now that guy is earning his pay." On the other hand, how often do you hear a sound bite, see a Congressional committee on C-SPAN, read an account of official conduct, and say, "We pay these guys for this?" A brief suspension of pay and benefits would at least remind Congress that they work for us and that they should, occasionally, work.

Naturally, this solution is highly unlikely, since the agency that oversees Congress is, oddly and constitutionally, Congress. This is why members continue to enjoy ever higher levels of pay, staff allowances, travel benefits, health benefits and countless percs and privileges taxpayers never dreamed of. Congress decides how much of our money to pay itself to spend our money. With the near certainty that any incumbent in Congress will retain his or her seat in any election, is it any wonder that our public servants feel insulated from the consequences of their shortcomings?

This brings us to the only recourse American citizens have left. It’s unlikely that we can make any public official forfeit his pay. But next election, we can ensure that he gets up close and personal familiarity with the job market.