Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) along with original co-sponsors Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-01) and Congressman Mike Gallagher (WI-08) today introduced the Accountability for Congressional Pay Act, which will directly link pay for Members of Congress to their ability to balance the budget.

This legislation would cut Members of Congress’ pay equal to the percentage of deficit spending in our federal budget. This pay cut will be up to 15 percent and will be implemented during each member’s following term, should that member get re-elected. Members serving their first term will not receive a pay cut.

“For Fiscal Year 2016, our federal government spent $3.9 trillion while only bringing in $3.3 trillion in revenues. As Members of Congress, it is our duty not to spend more than we bring in and not increase our federal deficit, which is projected to skyrocket to $1.4 trillion by 2027. Every day, Americans are struggling to balance their own checkbooks and we must hold ourselves accountable and incentivize good budgetary practices,” said Congressman Bacon.

“As Members of Congress, we owe a fiduciary responsibility to the American people. The ACP Act increases Congressional accountability by tying Member compensation directly to the rate of success we have when it comes to reining in out-of-control government spending. There has to be skin in the game for all of us. We’re on the edge of a fiscal crisis, and it’s time for us to stop being irresponsible with other people’s money,” said Congressman Bergman.

“Federal spending is out of control. Americans are saddled with a national debt of over $19 trillion that is bankrupting the country and sending the bill to the next generation. My colleagues and I were elected to fix these problems rather than punt them down the road to be fixed at a later date. By seeking to link the pay that members of Congress receive to their ability to balance the budget, we would be holding Congress accountable to do its job and restoring the American people’s trust back in Government,” said Congressman Gallagher.

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