Fox 25 News
As the government shutdown progresses, two congressmen representing Oklahoma have said they’ll refuse their paychecks through the shutdown.
Representative Tom Cole (R – Okla. 4th District) and Representative James Lankford (R – Okla. 5th District) both tell FOX 25 they’ve sent letters to the Chief Administration Office asking to withhold their paychecks until the shutdown ends.
Representative Jim Bridenstine (R – Okla. 1st District) has said he will not accept his paycheck at all while Representative Markwayne Mullin (R-OK 2nd District), plans to donate his paycheck to the Treasury.
In the Senate, Tom Coburn said earlier this week that he’ll continue collecting his paycheck through the shutdown, making him one of just two Senators to do so. He told CNN he plans to “spend it and tithe it and give to it charities and do the things that I’ve always done.”
Senator Jim Inhofe and Representative Frank Lucas (R – Okla. 3rd District) have not responded to messages left with their press or communications office.
While the gesture by Cole and Lankford is admirable, it’s just that, a gesture… They only get paid once a month and their next pay date isn’t until the end of the month and it is highly likely that the shutdown will end by then.