Norton to Donate Her Pay During a Shutdown to Organizations Working for Equal Treatment for D.C.
Norton to Donate Her Congressional Pay During a Shutdown to Organizations Working for Equal Treatment for D.C.
April 8, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC -- The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said that, in solidarity with three different sets of her constituents-federal agency employees, D.C. government employees and congressional employees--she will donate her salary for every day the federal government is shut down to non-profit organizations that are working to preserve and expand the District's self-governing rights, for voting rights and for statehood. Norton represents not only federal workers, but District employees, who will be forced off their jobs because the House Republican majority has repeatedly refused to pass her bill to allow the District to continue spending its own local funds for the remainder of the fiscal year, even if the federal government shuts down. In addition, Norton has used her congressional authority to declare her entire staff essential, which will mean they will be on the job during a shutdown, but will not be guaranteed pay.
Norton said she had hoped that by now Congress would have passed a bill requiring that Members of Congress receive no pay in the event of a shutdown. The Senate, but not the House, has passed such a bill. Norton said that, particularly considering that Congress alone is responsible for the shutdown and loss of pay for workers, leadership by example is a virtual requirement.