SB 88, the “No Budget, No Pay Act,” would condition congressional pay on Congress meeting two annual budget deadlines. By October 1 of each fiscal year, both chambers would have to approve a concurrent budget resolution and pass all regular appropriations bills. If Congress fails to do so, Members of Congress would not be paid for the period of noncompliance, and the bill bars retroactive payment for that missed period after the fact.
The bill establishes a process for determining compliance and certifying the length of any unpaid period. In the Senate, the Secretary of the Senate would request certification from the Senate Budget and Appropriations Chairs; in the House, the Chief Administrative Officer would do the same with the House Budget and Appropriations Chairs. The measure defines the relevant chairs and excludes the Vice President from the definition of Member of Congress for purposes of the pay restriction. The act would take effect on September 29, 2027.
Impact
SB 88 would amend the practical operation of congressional compensation by creating a statutory pay suspension tied to budget and appropriations deadlines, rather than changing substantive budget law or appropriations procedures themselves. It would affect Members of Congress directly and require administrative certification by congressional budget and appropriations leadership and chamber officers to implement any pay withholding. The bill would not alter the underlying budget process in the Congressional Budget Act, but it would add a financial enforcement mechanism intended to pressure timely adoption of a budget resolution and regular appropriations bills.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and its sponsorship, the measure appears to be framed positively by its supporters as a accountability and deadline-enforcement proposal, consistent with the familiar “No Budget, No Pay” concept. The bill was introduced by Senator Scott with several Republican cosponsors and referred to committee, with no recorded votes or committee debate provided in the materials. The absence of recorded opposition in the supplied context means the overall sentiment cannot be measured from votes, but the structure of the bill suggests it is intended as a reform measure aimed at forcing congressional action.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely the fairness and constitutionality of withholding legislative pay as a penalty for institutional failure, especially because the consequence falls on individual Members even though budget and appropriations outcomes depend on collective action across both chambers and parties. Another likely issue is whether the mechanism is an effective incentive or merely symbolic, since Congress could still miss deadlines and potentially face administrative complications in determining the unpaid period. Supporters would likely emphasize accountability and fiscal discipline, while critics may argue that pay penalties do not solve the underlying political impasse and could raise separation-of-powers or compensation concerns.
A concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2026 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2027 through 2035.
Inaction Has Consequences Act This bill withholds the salaries of Members of a chamber of Congress that has not passed each of the annual appropriations bills before the beginning of the fiscal year, beginning with FY2024. Salaries are released on the earlier of (1) the date on which the chamber of Congress passes the bills, or (2) the last day of the Congress.
This joint resolution proposes constitutional amendments that (1) authorize the President to reduce or disapprove any appropriation in a bill or joint resolution using a line-item veto; (2) prohibit Members of Congress from serving more than six terms in the House of Representatives or two terms in the Senate; and (3) prohibit a chamber of Congress from agreeing to legislation that imposes, authorizes, or raises any tax or fee unless the legislation contains no other subject and is agreed to by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the chamber.