Dwain Northey (Gen X)

This would be my proposal if I were ever to be in the US government in a position of power congressman or senator. I have thought this through and believe that my title would rather than be do your job act would be get off your fucking ass act but do your job act sounds more professional.

The “Do Your Job Act of 2025”

A Proposal by Representative [American Poeple]

Section 1. Short Title.

This Act shall be cited as the “Do Your Job Act of 2025.”

Section 2. Findings and Purpose.

Congress finds that:

The United States Constitution grants Congress the power of the purse, including the responsibility to draft, debate, and pass a federal budget. In recent years, Congress has failed to perform this most basic duty, instead relying on short-term Continuing Resolutions (CRs), which are the legislative equivalent of duct tape on a sinking ship. Members of Congress are paid to legislate, not to procrastinate. If Members cannot pass a budget, they should not be paid for failing to do the job they were elected to do. Accountability begins at home. The American people should not shoulder the consequences of congressional dysfunction while Members of Congress continue to collect full paychecks.

The purpose of this Act is to ensure Members of Congress are financially accountable for their failure to pass a real budget.

Section 3. Salary Withholding for Failure to Pass a Budget.

(a) If Congress fails to pass a federal budget by the start of the new fiscal year (October 1), then:

All salaries for Members of Congress shall be suspended immediately until such time that a budget is passed and signed into law.

(b) During such suspension, no retroactive pay shall be issued. Pay forfeited is permanently lost.

Section 4. Penalty for Overuse of Continuing Resolutions.

(a) For each Continuing Resolution (CR) enacted in place of a full budget, every Member of Congress shall face a 10% reduction in their base annual salary, applied immediately and permanently.

(b) Reductions shall be cumulative. For example:

First CR = 10% reduction. Second CR = 20% reduction. Third CR = 30% reduction, and so forth.

(c) Should Congress attempt to rely exclusively on CRs rather than pass a budget, Members shall continue to forfeit salary until such time that an actual federal budget is enacted.

Section 5. Applicability.

This Act applies equally to all Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, regardless of party affiliation, seniority, or committee assignment.

Section 6. Severability.

If any provision of this Act is found to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the remaining provisions shall not be affected.

Section 7. Effective Date.

This Act shall take effect beginning Fiscal Year 2026.

Closing Statement:

The American people show up for work every day knowing that if they don’t do their jobs, they don’t get paid. Congress should live by the same rules. Passing budgets is not optional. It is literally our job description. If we cannot pass one, we should not profit from our incompetence.