Daines’ bill requires balanced budget from Congress or members don’t get paid

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) on Monday sponsored legislation to withhold the paychecks for members of Congress when they do not produce a balanced federal budget. 

“Congress is here to serve — not to be served,” Sen. Daines said on Jan. 23. “If Congress can’t do its job and pass a balanced budget, members shouldn’t get paid.”

The Balanced Budget Accountability Act, S. 6, aims to hold Congress accountable by requiring a balanced budget and to address the public debt crisis, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Daines’ staff.

“As our national debt soars and inflation continues to hammer Montana families, it’s past time we bring accountability to Washington, and my Balanced Budget Accountability Act will do just that,” said the senator.

If enacted, S. 6 would encourage members of Congress to commit to the annual budget process as required by law and pass budgets that balance within 10 years, the summary says, noting that if a balanced budget is not passed by April 15 — the legal requirement for Congress to have passed a budget — then members would not be paid.

Sen. Daines has introduced this bill in the U.S. Senate at the beginning of every new Congress since the 114th Congress, according to his staff, as well as when he served in the U.S. House of Representatives during the 113th Congress.

S. 6 has been referred to the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee for consideration.