KMA: Axne axes salary during shutdown
January 11, 2019
In The News
Mike Peterson, KMA Land, Jan 11, 2019
(Washington) -- Since thousands of federal workers aren't getting paid during the partial federal government shutdown, Iowa Congresswoman Cindy Axne says she won't be paid, either.
The freshman congressional representative sent a letter to Chief Administrative Officer Phillip Kiko Wednesday, directing the CAO to withhold her paycheck until the government is reopened. Roughly 800,000 federal employees haven't been paid since the partial federal government shutdown began three weeks ago, after congressional Democrats rejected President Trump's push for almost $6 billion for a wall along the southern border. In a statement, Axne said, quote, "I do not believe that it is appropriate for members of Congress to receive paychecks while Iowa families suffer, and our security is compromised due to a government shutdown."
Speaking on KMA's "Morning Line" program Wednesday morning, Axne says she was disappointed the U.S. Senate took no vote on a bill approved in the Democrat-controlled House allocating $1.3 billion for border security--minus funding for the wall.
"What we did last week in the House was pass a bill that essentially said, 'let's reopen all of government, let's fund that all the way through the fiscal year, let's fund the Department of Homeland Security through February 8th, so that we can have conversations about security, about the border, and about what we can do to make sure our country stays safe,'" said Axne. "I think that's a great bill. Unfortunately, we didn't see that go where it needed to, so we're breaking those down this week, and we're voting specifically for those individual bills."
In her letter to the CAO, Axne indicates that air traffic controllers, TSA agents, bureau of prison guards, certain FBI and DEA officials and other federal workers are among those not getting paychecks. Axne says the government shutdown must end in order to help these individuals.
"I'm hopeful that all of us come together--Democrats and Republicans--and say, 'it's just so important to get government up and running,'" she said. "It's not just the people who are missing their paychecks--which is a big element--but it's so many other parts of our economy, and we've got to make sure we're protecting that. Then, we can work out this other agreement. And, I truly believe that there are good people who are ready to make that happen."
A copy of Axne's letter is published here:
January 10, 2019
Dear Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader McConnell, Minority Leader McCarthy, Minority Leader Schumer,
I strongly urge you to pass H.R. 265, the Agriculture Appropriations bill, to reopen the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and restore programs and services that are vital to Iowa’s farmers and rural communities.
The lapse in USDA federal funding will have a significant impact on an industry that is an economic driver and job creator across the state of Iowa. So long as the USDA remains unfunded, hundreds of crucial programs and services are unavailable, preventing Iowa farmers from providing for their families and feeding people at home and around the world.
More specifically, the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), which provides farmers with direct payments, accepts loan applications, helps farmers navigate regulations, provides disaster assistance payments, and assists in conversation efforts, is closed. Emergency aid relief for farmers impacted by retaliatory tariffs may now be delayed. Farmers are unable to cash crucial checks or make loan payments, and refunds to farmers will not be processed during the shutdown. This is particularly harmful to beginning, young, and family farmers who rely on FSA services to start and strengthen their operations.
Farmers in my district are struggling due to government dysfunction. Iowa risks serious financial ramifications if the USDA remains closed. It could force Iowa farmers into debt and hamper their ability to prepare for next season. Additionally, studies have shown that each dollar of net farm income results in an additional 60 cents of economic activity within rural, small communities. A loss of farm productivity would negatively impact our rural communities.
Funding the USDA, which has historically received strong bipartisan support, would significantly help Iowa farmers and rural communities while allowing Congress and the President to continue negotiations to better strengthen our border security.
I strongly urge you to put politics aside and pass H.R. 265.
Sincerely,
Cindy Axne
Member of Congress
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