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NewsMax caught up with Sen. George Allen Saturday morning at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in Memphis, Tenn. to ask him about his proposed idea of withholding congressional pay when Congress fails to deliver legislation during the regular Congressional season.
The senator and likely 2008 presidential candidate explained that he first introduced the idea last month and he mentioned his "paycheck penalty” proposal again during the morning general session.
In fact, unbeknownst to Allen, the witty Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who spoke after Allen in the morning session, drew laughter from the crowd when he said he just heard about a pay cut in October, so he would need to hold a fundraiser.
"The reaction of my colleagues was, they were not real thrilled," Allen said. "One of them said that’s an interesting idea and he asked ‘that applies only to appropriation committee meeting members, right?' And I said, 'no, no, it applies to all.' He wasn’t real happy.”
Allen added that support was lean, even with families.
"I brought this up to a group and one of the spouse’s said, 'No, no, no!' And I said that’s exactly why it would work ... The spouses and the family would be saying, ‘Hey mom and dad, get these things done We can’t be going month after month without a paycheck.'
"My argument is in the real world that it works exactly that way," Allen continued. "If someone is building a house or an addition there is always 10 percent or so that is withheld until they get a certificate of occupancy.”
With a more serious tone, the Virginia senator explained why he thinks some type of penalty is needed.
"I find it deplorable, really, that you have a full-time legislature and you go into session on January 3 and you have all the way to October 1 and you can’t get it done. The fact is if you look at last January, we had two votes in the Senate, both on Alito - stopping the filibuster and the vote which was very important.
"But not everyone is on the judiciary committee," he continued. "Why can’t they get moving on a variety of other matters, so they don’t get into May and June and start saying we don’t have enough time.”
When asked who is actually supportive of the idea, the Senator laughed.
"I haven’t found any yet. However, I am going to try to find a way. [Sen. Tom] Coburn, R-Mo., ought to be with me. I’ll have to talk to him.”
On a more serious note, the Senator said he believes Americans would be for the idea.
"I know who’s for it: the American people ... If these folks were in the U.S. Senate, this would have passed 99 to 1.
"The people are for it and that’s what matters," Allen said. "The owners of government are for it. Maybe the owners of congress aren’t yet enthused about it.”
I can see this guy's star rising!
The senator and likely 2008 presidential candidate explained that he first introduced the idea last month and he mentioned his "paycheck penalty” proposal again during the morning general session.
In fact, unbeknownst to Allen, the witty Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who spoke after Allen in the morning session, drew laughter from the crowd when he said he just heard about a pay cut in October, so he would need to hold a fundraiser.
"The reaction of my colleagues was, they were not real thrilled," Allen said. "One of them said that’s an interesting idea and he asked ‘that applies only to appropriation committee meeting members, right?' And I said, 'no, no, it applies to all.' He wasn’t real happy.”
Allen added that support was lean, even with families.
"I brought this up to a group and one of the spouse’s said, 'No, no, no!' And I said that’s exactly why it would work ... The spouses and the family would be saying, ‘Hey mom and dad, get these things done We can’t be going month after month without a paycheck.'
"My argument is in the real world that it works exactly that way," Allen continued. "If someone is building a house or an addition there is always 10 percent or so that is withheld until they get a certificate of occupancy.”
With a more serious tone, the Virginia senator explained why he thinks some type of penalty is needed.
"I find it deplorable, really, that you have a full-time legislature and you go into session on January 3 and you have all the way to October 1 and you can’t get it done. The fact is if you look at last January, we had two votes in the Senate, both on Alito - stopping the filibuster and the vote which was very important.
"But not everyone is on the judiciary committee," he continued. "Why can’t they get moving on a variety of other matters, so they don’t get into May and June and start saying we don’t have enough time.”
When asked who is actually supportive of the idea, the Senator laughed.
"I haven’t found any yet. However, I am going to try to find a way. [Sen. Tom] Coburn, R-Mo., ought to be with me. I’ll have to talk to him.”
On a more serious note, the Senator said he believes Americans would be for the idea.
"I know who’s for it: the American people ... If these folks were in the U.S. Senate, this would have passed 99 to 1.
"The people are for it and that’s what matters," Allen said. "The owners of government are for it. Maybe the owners of congress aren’t yet enthused about it.”
I can see this guy's star rising!
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