Eric Cantor: Here’s a 3-month debt ceiling increase. Use it to pass a budget, Senators.

Or you don’t get paid.

“The first step to fixing this problem is to pass a budget that reduces spending. The House has done so, and will again. The Democratic Senate has not passed a budget in almost four years, which is unfair to hardworking taxpayers who expect more from their representatives. That ends this year.

“We must pay our bills and responsibly budget for our future. Next week, we will authorize a three month temporary debt limit increase to give the Senate and House time to pass a budget. Furthermore, if the Senate or House fails to pass a budget in that time, Members of Congress will not be paid by the American people for failing to do their job. No budget, no pay.

There’s a lot of arguments going on right now about the best thing for Republicans right now (I default to agreeing with Ieyasu when it comes to birds that will not sing), but one thing that absolutely must change is that we have to find some way to make Senate Democrats do their damned jobs. If you don’t like this method of getting them to pass a budget, by all means: feel free to suggest a better one.

One that might work.

Moe Lane

PS: Via Hot Air comes Paul Ryan, making it explicit:

But for nearly four years, Senate Democrats have refused to pass a budget. Today’s agreement will hold the Senate accountable for this legal and moral failure. Just as April 15 is tax day for American families, it is budget day for Congress. Unless the Senate acts, there will be no consideration of a long-term debt-ceiling increase.

Let me be explicit, too. The 2009 budget was an aberration, fueled by Democratic hubris and since-vanished super-majorities in Congress. It ain’t going to happen again. The VRWC will go full court gonzo if they try.