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Rep. Lowenthal Say’s ‘No’ to Paycheck as Federal Government Shut Down Enters Week Two

 

Rep. Alan Lowenthal refuses pay check during government shut down.

Rep. Alan Lowenthal refuses pay check during government shut down.

By Brian Hews

Long Beach area Congressman Alan Lowenthal is joining a growing list of elected members of Congress who are refusing to take their pay check as the Federal government shut down enters its second week.

On Monday, Lowenthal fired off a letter to the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer requesting that he not be paid “due to the government shutdown.”

Members of Congress will receive their monthly paychecks during the federal government shutdown while all other federal employees will not be paid.

“I had sincerely hoped we could avoid an irresponsible government shutdown by passing a reasonable solution to fund the government,” said Congressman Lowenthal.

“I refuse to accept my paycheck until federal employees who must work during the shutdown are paid. I am proud to stand with the hardworking federal employees of my district and across the nation by ensuring that I am treated no differently in this situation.”

Lowenthal represents a wide swatch of Long Beach and Western Orange County and is in his first two year stint as an elected member of the US House of Representatives.

Lowenthal also stressed to members of the media, including Hews Media Group-Community Newspaper that “certain federal employees will be forced to work during a shutdown without a paycheck until a bill to fund the federal government is enacted.”

In his letter to US CAO Dan Strodel,  Lowenthal stated: “I am writing to ask that I not be given my salary, earned for the month of October and thereafter, as long as the lapse in appropriations continues.”

“When this shutdown occurred, hundreds of thousands of federal employees were furloughed.  Others, who are deemed to perform essential services, will be forced to work.  Despite the fact that these latter employers have to work, they will not receive paychecks during the period of a government shutdown.  However, it is my understanding that I, as a Member of Congress, will continue to receive a paycheck,” Lowenthal continued.

“I believe it is simply wrong and unfair for me to receive my salary while Americans working hard across the country as part of our federal workforce receive nothing until this appropriations crisis is resolved.  Therefore, I ask that until federal employees, who must work during a federal government shutdown, are paid, I not be given my paycheck,” he ended.

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