Boxer, Casey: Don't Pay Congress if Govt Defaults

Sens. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Bob Casey, D-Pa., are pulling out all the stops to ensure an increase in the debt ceiling, which many Republicans oppose unless Democrats agree to significant additional budget cuts. The two senators are urging Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to dock pay for congressmen if the government defaults on its debt, Politico reports.

A letter that Boxer and Casey wrote to Geithner Tuesday says: “We agree with you that it is unthinkable that the United States could default on its obligations, and that the consequences of inaction would be disastrous for our economy.

“There is no reason that Members of Congress and the President should be free from the pain that would be felt by our nation if the government were to default . . . If we cannot do our jobs and protect the full faith and credit of the United States, we should not get paid.”