Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) continued his aggressive push to strip members of Congress of their salaries during the ongoing government shutdown, making a prominent media appearance a day after Senate Democrats blocked his legislation on the chamber floor.
The Florida Senator’s “No Budget, No Pay Act,” which would prevent Congress from receiving paychecks if they fail to fund the federal government, was defeated on Thursday when Senate Democrats moved to block its immediate passage.
Scott argued that the bill simply holds members accountable when they “put the paychecks of millions of our military members and federal employees at risk.”
During his remarks on the Senate floor on Thursday, Senator Scott called for the immediate passage of his bill, arguing that the legislative body has failed “time and time again” to do its basic duty of passing 12 appropriations bills on time—a feat last accomplished nearly three decades ago.
“I rise today with my bipartisan and common sense No Budget, No Pay Act – a simple proposal that says if members of Congress can’t complete one of our basic jobs of funding the government, we don’t get paid,” Senator Scott stated.
Scott accused Democrats of “thriving in the dysfunction” and prioritizing a “liberal wish list” over the needs of Americans, pointing out the severe ethical disparity: members of Congress continue to get paid while military personnel, TSA, FAA, and other federal workers miss paychecks.
Following the block, Senator Scott joined Fox & Friends on Friday to double down on his attacks, labeling the current impasse the “Schumer Shutdown” and accusing Democrats of dragging it out due to “pure hatred for President Trump.”
Scott reiterated his central criticism, highlighting the immense human cost of the budget impasse:
- Federal Employees and Military: Missing paycheck after paycheck.
- Vulnerable Americans: Disregard toward the 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP benefits.
- Democratic Hypocrisy: Calling out the Democrats’ “blatant hypocrisy” for actively blocking the No Budget, No Pay Act while millions of Americans are deprived of their income during the “longest shutdown in recorded history.”
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