Legislators Get Paid During Government Shut Down, Some Refusing Pay

The U.S. government is shut down and thousands of federal employees are being forced to take furlough days, but members of Congress and the president must be paid by law, the Washington Post reports.

Under the U.S. Constitution, the salary of members of congress and the president are paid with mandatory funds, not discretionary spending dependent on annual appropriations, and the Post reports.

According to the newspaper, lawmakers of the House and Senate make $174,000 annually, while congressional leaders earn more.

Some legislators have said they will not accept salaries during the shut down. Here’s what local lawmakers are doing:

Rep. Peter J. Roskam (R): His office said Roskam is "withdrawing his salary for the duration of the shut down."

Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D): Her press secretary said he had not discussed the issue with her but pointed out she has been taking an 8.4 percent cut since February as a result of the sequester. The total is about $1,200 a month, he said. 

Rep. Randy Hultgren (R): He told the Washington Post that he'll revoke his salary "until Congress passes and the President signs an acceptable solution to fund the federal government."

Rep. Brad Schneider (D): In response to a Twitter callout by The Washington Post, Schneider that "I will be returning my paycheck until Congress finds a sensible solution to this harmful shutdown."