Majority Of Colorado Congress Giving Up Pay During Government Shutdown

The partial shutdown of the federal government continues as politicians bicker, and 800,000 federal employees are not allowed to work, including thousands here in Northern Colorado.

A lot of us, myself included, are growing continually disheartened by our elected officials as this goes on. However, I just found out that the majority of Congress members from Colorado are forgoing their pay during the shutdown.

I know this won't fix the problem, but for some reason, it makes me feel better that these officials are saying, "If the people I work for can't get paid, then neither should I."

According to 9News, these members of Congress from Colorado are planning to not take pay, or donate their pay to charity during the shutdown:

• Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) - Plans to donate his pay, possibly to flood relief efforts.
• Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colorado) - Will donate his shutdown pay to charity if Congress does not approve back pay for federal workers affected by the shutdown.
•  Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colorado) - Plans to return his pay to the US treasury.
•  Rep. Scott Tipton (R-Colorado) - Asking for his pay to be withheld.
•  Rep. Cory Gardner (R-Colorado) - Asking for his pay to be withheld.
•  Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colorado) - Plans to donate his pay to Colorado flood relief efforts.

They say that Rep, Ed Perlmutter and Rep. Diana DeGette do not plan of giving up their pay and Rep. Doug Lamborn is undecided on the issue. (There's always got to be one, doesn't there?)

These Colorado delegates are not alone either, the Washington Post is keeping tabs on what Congress members around the country are refusing pay.

What do you think, are you happy that some members of Congress are refusing pay during the shutdown?

All I can tell you is that I wish this mess was over and we could figure out how to move forward, with success, as a country.

Can we start a countdown to the end of the shutdown yet?

[9News]