By Javier Manjarres
Republican congressional candidate Julius Melendez is a current U.S. National Guard Medic who has completed two tours in Iraq, and he’s hoping to face off against the uber-obnoxious progressive Alan Grayson in the newly drawn 9th congressional district. Melendez is agreeing with Congressman Vern Buchanan, in that members of Congress should not receive a salary if the national budget is not balanced. Melendez says that “he would go a further” in asking for a 10% pay cut on Congressional salaries.
Melendez is married with three children and was elected to the Osceola County school board in 2008; and he’s currently in a contested Republican primary against four other candidates including Osceola County Commissioner John Quinones, attorney Todd Long and businessman Mark Oxner. Melendez recently won a congressional primary straw poll vote held by the Solivita Republican Club in Polk County.
Melendez has been endorsed by former State Senator Carey Baker, and you can learn more about his campaign for Congress at his website http://juliusmelendez.us/.
Related: Melendez on Rubio’s Dream Act
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7 Responses to “GOP Candidate Calls for Congressional Pay Cut,’No Budget, No Pay’”
Withholding or cutting the pay of members of the House or Senate for failing to balance the budget is a non-starter because it is unconstitutional. Someone should acquaint Mr. Melendez with the 27th Amendment:
“No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.”
So you can’t specifically punish the people who fail to balance the budget, only their successors. And, of course, you’d have to get sitting Senators and Representatives, most of whom expect to be re-elected, to vote to cut their own pay. When’s the last time a politician did THAT?
This is not only a silly publicity stunt, it is a dumb one and raises questions about Melendez’s qualifications to hold office. You can’t really be a “Constitutional conservative” if you don’t know the Constitution.
ahh yes, and amendment made by senators and congressmen FOR senators and congressmen.
Gotta love that!! That amendment aside, I’m all FOR this! there comes a time when the people have to override the strictures of a crony congress.
We DO have a way. the Framers called it the 2nd amendment. does it really have to go that far to get equality between the ‘ruling class’ and the rest of us plebeians?
“ahh yes, and amendment made by senators and congressmen FOR senators and congressmen.”
And submitted to the states and approved by the legislatures of three quarters of them.
“That amendment aside…”
Yeah. Putting REALITY aside, we could replace congressmen and senators with intelligent unicorns. “And apart from THAT, how did you enjoy the play, Mrs. Lincoln.”
And the “way” you’re looking for to fix an issue like this one is not the 2n Amendment, it is the amendment process itself. You know, the LEGAL way. People like you are the reason that people think conservatives are lawless, ignorant nutjobs.
Later,
Joe
Good idea from a bright young Republican. Long term politicians are the ones that have gotten our country in the financial mess we find ourselves. These politicians should be the first to feel “our” pain and they should not receive pay or benefits until they successfully unravel the rules and regulations that are strangling us all.
Best of luck Melendez and thank you for your service.
There are maybe 5 honest people in The Congress, Senate and rest of of our wonderful government. After all all this parts consist of lawyers (to me synonymous with liars)
Lord– less than 10 people -please do something.
The mere mention of Alan Grayson’s name makes me nauseous. Grayson is the most vile and despicable politician in recent memory and that says a lot considering there so many other candidates vying for that deplorable distinction
This is a great idea! I have been researching the canddiates and i think I have decided for Melendez. Quinones is begging and coercing people to contribute and Long is a shameful drunk. Oxner just seems crazy. This is a guy with at least a fresh perspective. I like him. He’s smart, original and honest … and he’s not a damn lawyer! Melendez you have my vote! I’ll be sending my check in the mail tomorrow!