U.S. Reps. Black, Cooper giving congressional pay to charity during budget standoff

U.S. Rep. Diane Black

Rep. Jim Cooper

NASHVILLE – While 800,000 federal employees are on unpaid furloughs due to the government shutdown, taxpayer-funded checks are still going to the folks responsible for the situation.

That would be members of Congress and President Barack Obama, whose salaries are authorized by the U.S. Constitution and paid with mandatory funds.

But at least two members of Tennessee’s congressional delegation, U.S. Rep. Diane Black, R-Tenn., and U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., have joined what may be a growing, dare say, bipartisan movement among representatives and senators to give up their pay as Republicans and Democrats battle over GOP efforts to delay parts of the federal health law.

Black says she plans to give her check to charity during the standoff.

“It is wrong for Congress to continue to collect a paycheck while other federal employees across the country are furloughed as a result of the Senate Democrats’ government shutdown,” the Gallatin Republican said Tuesday in a Facebook posting.