No Work No Pay Must Stay

"No Work, No Pay" is the law that requires Members of Congress to forfeit their pay when they are absent from Congress - unless they or a family member are ill. The National Taxpayers Union warns the Senate is trying to get rid of it.

An NTU study released in January 2005 found that 25 lawmakers had 10 or more days of unexcused absences in the 108th Congress, amounting to more than $500,000 in illegal salary payments. Seventeen of those 25 senators (including Sens. John F. Kerry and John Edwards) and representatives were campaigning for higher office. From January 2003 to the October 2004 recess, presidential hopeful John Kerry missed 146 days of votes without being granted leave, the NTU said, making his total salary overpayment $90,932.68.

A provision to repeal the law is included in a Senate appropriations bill that emerged from committee this week.

"With enough pressure from taxpayers, we can persuade the full Senate to restore the 'No Work, No Pay' law, or fight to keep the law intact when the bill goes to a conference committee," the NTU said in a press release.

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