The Hill News

A group of almost two dozen Democratic senators are requesting a meeting with House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to make the case for passing legislation in the House that would stop lawmakers and President Obama from being paid during a government shutdown.

According to a press statement, 21 Senate Democrats sent a letter to Boehner Tuesday asking for a quick discussion on passing the bill. The senators argue that Obama or members of Congress do not deserve to continue receiving a salary if the government is forced to close.

"Our bill is simple: if we cannot do our work and keep the government functioning, we should not receive a paycheck," the letter said. "If we cannot compromise and meet each other halfway, then we should not be paid."

The bill passed the Senate unanimously earlier this year.

The Senate Democrats asked Boehner to sit down with them "as soon as possible."

"We request to meet with you as soon as ! possible, whether in person or via conference call, to discuss how we can work together to immediately send this legislation to the President," the letter reads.
 
The meeting request comes as Republicans and Democrats continue to argue over a federal spending bill to fund the government for the rest of the year. Democrats in recent days said they were closing in on a compromise with Republicans to cut $33 billion in spending, but GOP leaders denied that was the case. On Tuesday, Boehner echoed those denials as he emerged from a meeting with his conference and said no progress had been made on a deal.

Earlier Tuesday, President Obama said there was "no excuse" for lawmakers' continuing failure to reach a compromise. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle say they want to reach a compromise before April 8 when the current continuing resolution funding the government expires.

The Democratic senators who signed the letter were:

Barbara Mikulski (Md.), Barbara Boxer (Calif.), Bob Casey (Penn.), Mark Begich (Alaska), Michael Bennet (Colo.), Sherrod Brown (Ohio), Chris Coons (Del.), Kay Hagan (N.C.), Tom Harkin (Iowa), Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), Joe Manchin (W.Va.), Claire McCaskill (Missouri), Robert Menendez (N.J.), Jeff Merkley (Ore.), Ben Nelson (Neb.), Jay Rockefeller (W.Va.) Debbie Stabenow (Mich.), Jon Tester (Mont.), Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.), Mark Warner (Va.) and Ron Wyden (Ore.).