Congressman Seth Moulton, a Democrat who represents Marblehead and the 6th District, is deferring his pay during the government shutdown.
In a letter to the chief administrative officer of the House of Representatives, Moulton wrote, “I represent thousands of federal employees, government contractors and their families in Massachusetts who will be furloughed or deemed essential and required to work without pay. Washington’s dysfunction is unacceptable. Until both parties come to the table, do their job and reopen the government, members of Congress should not receive pay. Please withhold my net pay until an appropriations agreement has taken effect and the shutdown has ended.”
In a press release, Moulton added, “While Democrats seek a bipartisan spending agreement that keeps health care costs affordable for all Americans, I will be deferring my own salary for the duration of this shutdown. Members of Congress should not be paid while the people we serve are left in limbo.”
The government shutdown began Oct. 1 at 12 a.m. when Congress did not pass a short-term funding bill. Democrats say they are fighting to restore about $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts approved by the Republican majority last summer. Democrats also want to extend tax credits for health care coverage.
