Not All Lawmakers Are Standing With Feds by Refusing Pay

Last week, we compiled a preliminary list of lawmakers who said they would refuse pay during the government shutdown. Perhaps not surprisingly, the number of House members and senators standing in solidarity with furloughed federal employees has increased dramatically as the shutdown has dragged on.

Some legislators, however, have maintained they should keep their pay. CNN has compiled the lists of lawmakers who won’t be giving up their paychecks, and some of their stated reasons.

Senate:

• Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo. -- Lawmakers refusing their salaries is “silly” and symbolic, Blunt said.
• Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla. -- Coburn said he would keep his salary and “spend it and tithe it.”
• Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb. -- Fischer said forfeiting pay is a “gimmick.”
• Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa -- “I’m working,” Grassley said. “Everybody that works gets paid for working.”
• Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa -- “We’re coming to work, though, so as long as we’re working, we ought to get paid,” Harkin said.
• Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.
• Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.

House:

• Rep. Susan Brooks, R-Ind.
• Rep. William Clay Jr., D-Mo.
• Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C. -- “Donating their pay does not absolve them of the responsibility to perform their sworn duty,” Clyburn said.
• Rep. Howard Coble, R-N.C.
• Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill.
• Rep. Renee Ellmers, R-N.C. -- “I need my paycheck,” Ellmers said. “That’s the bottom line.”
• Rep. Todd Rokita, R-Ind.
• Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla.
• Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif.