In the past two decades, a government shutdown has transitioned from being a dire situation to becoming a bargaining tool. This cannot be allowed to happen again.
To that end, we suggest a bill that would accomplish the following:
(1) During a government shutdown, members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives would become ineligible to draw any government benefits, including but not limited to their salaries and any health care benefits they are otherwise entitled to.
(2) If a resolution cannot be reached within five (5) days of the government shutting down, all members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives become ineligible for re-election upon the expiration of their current term. This ineligibility stands for the remainder of their lifetimes.