We would expect no less from a Navy Seal during difficult times but Representative Dan Crenshaw has put his money where his mouth is, literally.
The freshman Texas congressman is leading by example. His has asked that his paycheck be withheld until the government shutdown is over and the border properly funded.
“I cannot in good conscience get paid while federal employees’ financial futures hang in the balance because of this partial government shutdown,” wrote Crenshaw on Twitter. “I’ve asked the Chief Administrative Officer to withhold my pay until we have come to an agreement to adequately fund border security.”
Representative Crenshaw, who is no stranger to sacrifice for his country, was not the only one to suggest withholding his pay, was the only one to actually take action.
Freshman Democrat Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has yet to make a similar announcement about her paycheck but had tweeted out her view on congressional pay last month.
“Next time we have a gov shutdown, Congressional salaries should be furloughed as well,” she wrote in a December tweet. “It’s completely unacceptable that members of Congress can force a government shutdown on partisan lines & then have Congressional salaries exempt from that decision. Have some integrity.”
When pressed from reporters about whether or not she would forgo her pay during the shutdown, she had to run as she had no time for questions just then. She has yet to respond to further inquiries.
