Sen. Dean Heller is linking a fight over passing an annual budget and spending bills to an energy funding bill being debated by the Senate.
The Nevada Republican has filed his “no budget, no pay” legislation as an amendment to the energy and water appropriations bill, which Senate leadership is hoping to wrap up next week.
{mosads}Heller’s proposal would block lawmakers from getting paid if they don’t complete a budget and the 12 appropriations bills by Oct. 1, the start of a fiscal year.
The amendment comes after Heller sent a letter to Sens. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the top members of the Budget Committee, to press them to support his separate legislation. Sanders is running for president as a Democrat.
Heller wrote in the letter that Washington should “no longer be a pain free zone” and that he believes his legislation will help spur the frequently stalled budget and appropriations process.
“While I understand that some are hesitant to take such a bold initiative, I believe that there must be accountability for failing to do their jobs,” he added.
No vote has been scheduled on Heller’s amendment.
It isn’t the first time he’s tried to get the proposal passed. He’s repeatedly introduced the legislation since joining the Senate in 2011.
But his latest push comes days after Republicans missed the April 15 deadline to pass a budget, with no sign that they’ll take up the spending blueprint anytime soon.
Asked about the Senate’s plans earlier this month, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told reporters that they would wait to see what the House does and in the mean time work on the appropriations bills.