Too often in recent memory, we have seen the federal government in a state of "shut down" due to legislative gridlock in Congress. As polls consistently show, this is unacceptable to the American public.
Legislators are elected to serve the best interests of ALL of their constituents - not to use their elected position as a pulpit. Nor should they be attaching white-hot political issues to otherwise pedestrian legislation, halting such legislation which would otherwise be passed.
When Congress drives itself into this situation and the government is shut down, there is no good reason why the very creators of the problem should be paid, or receive benefits, while the shut down is active. Not only is this a logical cause-effect relationship, it should serve to prevent future difficulties.