U.S. Senators James Lankford and Maggie Hassan introduced the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act on Wednesday. The proposal is to restrict official travel for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) leadership or staff, Cabinet members, and Senator, Representatives and their staffs if all appropriations bills are not signed into law by October 1. That is the beginning of the federal fiscal year.
“Oklahomans and people around the country have asked for a solution to end government shutdowns that puts the punishment for failing to appropriate funds on the House, Senate, and White House, not our federal families,” said Lankford. “Americans have suggested that simply cutting Member pay would help prevent or quickly end shutdowns. I believe the real way to punish Washington dysfunction is to prevent Congress, the White House, and relevant staff from leaving until the job is done. Preventing travel and holding mandatory roll call votes ensure the negotiators remain at the table until the job is done, while the automatic funding mechanism ensures federal employees are paid and prevents the waste of tax dollars that comes from shutting down and re-opening the government. This is a common-sense, bipartisan bill, and I look forward to its full consideration in the Senate.”
