Rep. Peters Won’t Keep Pay During Shutdown

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) announced that for the duration of the ongoing government shutdown he would donate his pay to charity. While it is constitutionally required that Members of Congress be paid, the Congressman plans to donate his daily pay during this shutdown.

“Americans across the country are being harmed by this irresponsible shutdown,” Congressman Peters said.  “San Diego has many federal employees who are being furloughed from their jobs because Congress has failed to do its job. I will continue to do everything I can to get them back to work, but in the meantime I will stand with them by refusing to keep my pay during the shutdown. People across San Diego rely on services that the federal government provides and I will continue to work hard every day to find a reasonable solution that both sides can agree on and that the President can sign.

“I do not believe that the leadership failure of the Republican majority can subject 800,000 workers to furloughs, and countless Americans to service delays and closures, while I collect a paycheck.”

In May, Congressman Peters announced that he would join federal workers in sequestering his own pay, eight percent of his monthly salary, and he has been donating that amount to Senior Community Centers in San Diego to supplement meals for at-risk seniors.

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