Sen. Rick Scott has a sure-fire way to limit government shutdowns, if not eliminate them altogether.
The Republican senator from the free state of Florida said members of Congress should not receive a paycheck if the federal government is not open for business.
“If you didn’t do your job in business, you didn’t get paid,” he said Wednesday during an appearance on Fox and Friends. “If you don’t show up in your job, you don’t get paid. Why are we getting paid? We shouldn’t get paid if we don’t do our job.”
BREAKING: Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) is now pushing legislation ABOLISHING paychecks for members of Congress during a government shutdown.
“We shouldn’t get paid if we don’t do our job.”pic.twitter.com/LkBVY4sDPr
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 1, 2025
In 2019, his first year in the Senate, Scott sponsored legislation to prevent Congress from getting paid during government shutdowns.
Then again, with an estimated net worth over $500 million, Scott is believed to be the richest member of Congress. For what it’s worth, Scott reportedly donates his Senate salary and did not accept a salary in his eight years as governor of Florida, from 2011-2019.
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) was equally adamant that nothing will get in the way of his paycheck.
“I’m not wealthy, and I have three kids. I would basically be missing, you know, mortgage payments, rent payments, child support,” Gallego told NBC News. “So it’s not feasible, not gonna happen.”
Then again, you could abandon unrealistic demands, do your job, and find a compromise to keep the government open.
Here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story, as seen on X:
How is this not already a thing?
— The Patriot Oasis™ (@ThePatriotOasis) October 1, 2025
They are all rich from illegal insider trading.
Do you honestly think Nancy is worried about her tiny check she gets from congress when she is making millions every year from insider trading?
— Paradise Mint (@paradisemint) October 1, 2025
Sounds good but since (for most of them) the annual salary is a very small part of their income, it’s not much impact. When you can impact their income from stock options and lobbyists you might be on to something.
— JMKirkpatrick (@JMKirkpatrick2) October 1, 2025
— Bama Chan (@HeardChanda) October 1, 2025
So is @RepRalphNorman https://t.co/38flzIFCbL
— Elisa Sperduto, LMSW (@eduto60) October 1, 2025
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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