WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) penned an op-ed in the Las Vegas Review-Journal to outline the ways that a government shutdown would negatively impact Nevada by hurting government workers, the tourism industry, small businesses, veterans, and senior citizens. Senator Rosen also renewed her push to pass the bipartisan No Budget, No Pay Act that would hold Washington lawmakers accountable by preventing them from receiving their taxpayer-funded paycheck for the time the government is shut down.
Las Vegas Review-Journal: Don’t pay Congress during a government shutdown
By Jacky Rosen
Key Points:
- Nevadans are guided by a strong work ethic, and the hard-working people of our state are the ones who power our state’s economy. At the most basic level, we believe, as Nevadans, that if you don’t show up to do the job you were hired to do, you shouldn’t get paid. No matter who you are or where you work. It’s simple.
- I’m fighting to bring these common-sense Nevada values to Congress.
- Keeping the government open by working in a bipartisan way to pass responsible government funding is one of the most basic jobs for federal lawmakers. Yet some politicians in Washington have forgotten that simple proposition.
- A shutdown would derail our ability to deliver for Nevadans. More than 16,000 Nevadans who are employees of the federal government could be furloughed.
- It would also likely upend travel across the country — a key industry for Nevada. Airport travelers could see major disruptions and delays, which would lead to a steep decrease in tourism dollars coming to our state.
- A shutdown would also negatively impact small businesses, which make up more than 99 percent of all businesses in Nevada, by taking away access to critical federal support such as loans and resources from the U.S. Small Business Administration. This can mean the difference between a small business making payroll or not.
- The call centers from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that veterans rely on for help would go offline, and veteran benefit contact services would be unavailable.
- Applications for federal home loans would also be halted, impacting Nevadans who are trying to purchase a house.
- And Nevada seniors could face significant delays in applying for new Social Security benefits or replacing Social Security cards.
- And that’s why I’m renewing my push to clean up Washington by making sure members of Congress are held accountable in the same way that Nevada workers are: If they don’t do their jobs and pass a budget on time to prevent a shutdown, then no Washington official should receive a paycheck. It’s simple.
- I helped introduce the No Budget, No Pay Act with Republicans and Democrats to hold Washington lawmakers accountable for their actions, promote greater fiscal responsibility and help fix the inaction and dysfunction.
- This common-sense legislation will hold elected officials accountable and, I hope, restore some sanity and fiscal responsibility in Washington. This way, we can prevent future shutdowns and stop the gridlock.
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