Congressman Gus Bilirakis, who represents Florida’s 12th district in the U.S. House of Representatives, has asked the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer to withhold his congressional pay during the ongoing government shutdown.
“Government shutdowns are costly, disruptive, and ultimately unproductive,” said Congressman Bilirakis. “It is unacceptable for Members of Congress to receive a paycheck while dedicated federal workers – including members of our Armed Services- go without. That’s why I’ve instructed the CAO to withhold my salary for the full length of the shutdown. I strongly urge my colleagues in the Senate to stop playing partisan politics and pass the clean Continuing Resolution we sent them. We must immediately reopen the government and return to fulfilling our responsibilities to the American people.”
Bilirakis has represented Florida’s 12th district in Congress since 2007, succeeding Michael Bilirakis. Before serving in Congress, he was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1998 until 2006. He was born in Gainesville, Florida in 1963 and currently resides in Palm Harbor. Bilirakis graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in 1986 and received a law degree from Stetson University in 1989.
