BILLINGS- The two Republican members of Montana’s congressional delegation said Friday they will not accept their government pay during the ongoing government shutdown.
Both Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Greg Gianforte, both multi-millionaires, will join about 35 others on both sides of the aisle who are withholding their pay until the shutdown is over.
They also say they don’t want to take a paycheck while other government workers are going without pay.
But not everyone is feeling the same.
Newly sworn-in North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer, a Republican, says he will continue to take his salary because he feels the acts by the other members of Congress are “gimmicky.”
As for Montana’s senior U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, a spokesman told MTN News that the Democrat will take a paycheck during this time, but also added that the President has the power to end the shutdown immediately and that “people don’t need gimmicks.”
All three members of Montana’s Congressional Delegation hold a net worth of more than $1 million. According to Forbes Magazine, Gianforte is the second wealthiest member of Congress.
