Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina announced that he has reintroduced a proposal for a constitutional amendment to dock lawmakers’ pay when there is a government shutdown.

“During shutdowns, federal workers are told to ‘do more with less.’ Meanwhile, Congress still cashes paychecks. That’s wrong.” Norman wrote in a post on X.

“I’ve reintroduced an Amendment to end Member pay during shutdowns. Zero. No back pay either!!”

Norman thanked Republican Reps. Bob Latta of Ohio, Jack Bergman of Michigan, Eli Crane of Arizona, Cory Mills of Florida, Dusty Johnson of South Dakota, and John Joyce of Pennsylvania for joining as cosponsors.

The resolution lays out a clear mandate.

“Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years after the date of its submission for ratification,” the text reads.

It continues with a specific condition.

“A Representative or Senator may not receive compensation with respect to any period during which a Government shutdown is in effect. For purposes of this article, a Government shutdown shall be considered to be in effect if there is a lapse in appropriations for any Federal agency or department as a result of a failure to enact a regular appropriations bill or continuing resolution.”

The amendment also provides enforcement authority.

“Congress shall have the power to enforce this article through appropriate legislation.”

The proposal comes as the nation faces another partial government shutdown. By midweek, funding lapses are expected to begin after Republicans and Democrats failed to reach agreement. Both sides have blamed each other for the deadlock.

Norman issued a sharp statement in a press release.

“Members of Congress have a constitutional duty to fund the government’s essential functions. If Congress fails to meet that obligation, we should not expect taxpayers to continue paying us for inaction. No one else in America would get paid for failing to fulfill their duties—Congress should face the same principle.”

The fight over funding has again reached a breaking point. Democrats and Republicans have sparred over who should take responsibility, but Norman’s amendment cuts through the blame game. His plan says lawmakers should feel the same pain as federal workers when paychecks are put on hold.

Norman is also running for governor in South Carolina. His push for accountability in Washington is likely to become a central theme as he campaigns for higher office.

The proposal faces a steep path forward. Constitutional amendments require two-thirds approval in both chambers, followed by ratification in three-fourths of state legislatures. Still, Norman’s move has placed pressure on colleagues at a time when the public is weary of political standoffs.

By tying congressional pay directly to performance, Republicans aim to make sure lawmakers live under the same rules they impose on others. The debate over this amendment will likely intensify as the shutdown clock ticks and Americans demand answers.