South Carolina Republicans Seek Pay Suspension Amendment

The federal government shut down Oct. 1 after Congress failed to agree on funding, a lapse expected to furlough roughly 750,000 federal workers and close many offices. In response, Rep. Ralph Norman (R‑S.C.) reintroduced a proposed constitutional amendment to bar members of Congress from receiving compensation during a government shutdown and to prohibit any later back pay. Norman and cosponsors say the change would hold lawmakers accountable and add urgency to passing appropriations; several GOP colleagues publicly rejected or donated their pay. South Carolina Republicans including Rep. Nancy Mace and Sen. Lindsey Graham said they will forgo salaries or donate them while keeping district offices open, and Sen. Tim Scott blamed Democrats for failing to pass a clean short‑term funding bill. The amendment faces steep legal and political hurdles — it would require two‑thirds support in both chambers and ratification by three‑quarters of state legislatures — making enactment unlikely even as Republicans tout it to pressure Democrats during the shutdown.