Petition Requests President and Congress Not Get Paid Until Fiscal Cliff Agreement is Reached

A Texas woman created the online petition.

By Kandiss Crone

CREATED Dec. 5, 2012

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  • A Texas woman created the online petition. Video by kmtv.com

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Omaha, NE - Whether you believe the crisis is manufactured or real, you likely have an opinion. A Texas woman is so passionate - she created a petition on the White House's website. It calls for the President and Congress to give up their pay, and healthcare benefits until it's resolved. They must pass a solution, not a stop-gap. 

The petition's author, Deborah P.  goes on to say if they miss the January first deadline, Congress and the President must take a permanent 15% pay cut for two years.

Thousands of Americans have already signed the petition. KMTV Action 3 News hit the streets to find out if metro residents would lend their own signature.

 

"Absolutely. We do our job so we can get a paycheck, if they're not doing their job hold off on their pay until they get it done. I like it, Matt Mixan said.
 
"We think we're electing the people that are competent to do this job and if they can't do it in the time they're supposed to do it why pay them?" Gary Zdan said.
 
"If it affected them then maybe they would finally do something because the longer they drag this on the longer they'll be at a loss," Betty Golmanavich said.
 
The White House petition website "We the People" is designed to give citizens a voice in government - a voice Deborah P. of Arlington, Texas wants heard. She created the petition, but not everyone we talked to, said they're on board.
 
"I don't think anyone should be denied any type of benefit just because they take a position," Linda Swanson said.
 
"I don't think they should not be paid entirely but partial pay, say 1/2 pay which would perhaps help them realize that we want some good action," Verda Leigh Svovoda said.
 
One thing is for certain - the clock is ticking. Even with little progress on Capitol Hill,  residents tell KMTV Action 3 News they believe lawmakers will reach a deal by December 31st.
 
At last check, more than 8,000 people signed the online petition. It needs 25,000 signatures to get an official response from the president.
 
You can view the petition at: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/cease-paychecks-and-health-benefits-all-members-congress-and-president-until-fiscal-cliff-avoided/s3djhn29