Help me here, Kossacks . . . I keep hearing how Representatives and Senators keep getting paid, even when they shut down the government. But why is that necessarily so?
The way I understand how the system works, the Department of the Treasury ultimately controls all the disbursements of the federal government. I know when I get a refund check on my income tax, the check comes from the Treasury.
The Department of the Treasury is part of the executive branch of government.
So why can't the President and Commander-in-Chief order the Treasury to stop paying the House and the Senate. Do it publicly, make the announcement of the suspension of payment an executive order and add that as soon as Congress funds the nation, he will fund Congress.
Let the Teabaggers scream and whine and threaten impeachment - doesn't matter, the Senate isn't going to impeach him - and withholding payment from lousy workers may be a civil wrong, but it sure isn't a high crime or misdemeanor.
Thoughts?