U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Holland Twp., and U.S. Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif., have introduced legislation that would prevent Congress from being paid unless it passes a budget and all 12 appropriations bills on time.
The No Budget, No Pay Act was introduced in the House of Representatives Oct. 15.
While the federal government is currently shut down, dysfunction in Washington, D.C. is not new. Since the last major overhaul of federal budgeting and spending laws in 1974, Congress has only passed a budget resolution and all the accompanying spending bills on time once.
“We need to get our nation’s budget and appropriations process back on track,” Huizenga aid. “If Congress can’t fulfill its most basic duty to pass a budget, it shouldn’t get paid, and members of Congress shouldn’t get back-pay either. The No Budget, No Pay Act forces the same real-world consequences on all members of Congress that a shutdown or continuing resolution places on our troops and hardworking Americans.”
On Sept. 30, Huizenga requested the House of Representatives withhold his pay until the federal government reopens and the men and women serving in our military are paid.
“Our most important responsibility is the power of the purse, but Congress has again failed to do its job,” Peters said. “No Budget, No Pay will stop Members of Congress from getting paid unless they get a budget done on time. When the government shuts down, countless Americans are forced to endure the consequences.”
Peters has been donating his take-home salary during the shutdown to support local nonprofits in the San Diego area that he represents.
“Addressing our challenging fiscal situation will be difficult unless policymakers do the hard work of budgeting,” said Zach Moller, Director of the Economic Program at Third Way. “The No Budget, No Pay Act … presents a way for Congress to focus on this essential task. Ideas like this need to be in the mix as we try to both break out of a government shutdown and consider improvements to the budget and appropriations process.”
“No Budget, No Pay is a much-needed enforcement mechanism to ensure that Congress is doing its job and passing the federal budget on time — something that has not occurred since 1996. We are also deeply appreciative of the bipartisan leadership shown by Reps. Huizenga and Peters to introduce this and other bills,” said Carolyn Bordeaux, Executive Director of the Concord Coalition. “This legislation, paired with their bipartisan Fiscal Commission Act, could help this country make significant strides towards a budget process that is on time and on target to close the deficit.”
Huizenga last month introduced the Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act. This bipartisan legislation would ensure Border Patrol agents, immigration officers, TSA officials, and U.S. Coast Guard personnel would continue to receive a paycheck in the event of a government shutdown.
The No Budget, No Pay Act was introduced in the House of Representatives Oct. 15.
While the federal government is currently shut down, dysfunction in Washington, D.C. is not new. Since the last major overhaul of federal budgeting and spending laws in 1974, Congress has only passed a budget resolution and all the accompanying spending bills on time once.
“We need to get our nation’s budget and appropriations process back on track,” Huizenga aid. “If Congress can’t fulfill its most basic duty to pass a budget, it shouldn’t get paid, and members of Congress shouldn’t get back-pay either. The No Budget, No Pay Act forces the same real-world consequences on all members of Congress that a shutdown or continuing resolution places on our troops and hardworking Americans.”
On Sept. 30, Huizenga requested the House of Representatives withhold his pay until the federal government reopens and the men and women serving in our military are paid.
“Our most important responsibility is the power of the purse, but Congress has again failed to do its job,” Peters said. “No Budget, No Pay will stop Members of Congress from getting paid unless they get a budget done on time. When the government shuts down, countless Americans are forced to endure the consequences.”
Peters has been donating his take-home salary during the shutdown to support local nonprofits in the San Diego area that he represents.
“Addressing our challenging fiscal situation will be difficult unless policymakers do the hard work of budgeting,” said Zach Moller, Director of the Economic Program at Third Way. “The No Budget, No Pay Act … presents a way for Congress to focus on this essential task. Ideas like this need to be in the mix as we try to both break out of a government shutdown and consider improvements to the budget and appropriations process.”
“No Budget, No Pay is a much-needed enforcement mechanism to ensure that Congress is doing its job and passing the federal budget on time — something that has not occurred since 1996. We are also deeply appreciative of the bipartisan leadership shown by Reps. Huizenga and Peters to introduce this and other bills,” said Carolyn Bordeaux, Executive Director of the Concord Coalition. “This legislation, paired with their bipartisan Fiscal Commission Act, could help this country make significant strides towards a budget process that is on time and on target to close the deficit.”
Huizenga last month introduced the Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act. This bipartisan legislation would ensure Border Patrol agents, immigration officers, TSA officials, and U.S. Coast Guard personnel would continue to receive a paycheck in the event of a government shutdown.
Victory Secures More Than $25M in Critical Funding for West Michigan
State Sen. Roger Victory helped secure more than $25 million in the recently-passed state budget to improve local infrastructure and enhance public safety in his district.
“The overall budget invests in our local roads, cuts taxes for working families and seniors, and reduces overall government spending,” said Victory, R-Hudsonville.
Within the 31st Senate District, $920,000 was specifically allocated for Blendon Township to help improve its water system, and another $600,000 was awarded to Park Township to support the acquisition of the former U.S. Coast Guard station for use by the fire department’s marine division.
The fiscal year 2026 state budget also invests in a new public safety trust fund, which will make funding available to local governments for law enforcement and community violence intervention. The 31st Senate District will receive more than $630,000 from this fund.
“These projects are significant investments to improve infrastructure and public safety in our communities,” Victory said. “I am glad to have supported funding for these projects and look forward to continuing to advocate for the good folks of West Michigan.”
Of the $25 million in increased funding for infrastructure, Allegan County can expect to receive roughly $6 million to improve local roads. Ottawa County will receive more than $14 million in additional revenue.
Cities and villages will also see an increase in allotments for roads, including:
Zeeland — $275,753
Holland — $1,888,649
Ferrysburg — $162,338
Grand Haven — $542,021
Hudsonville — $347,841
Spring Lake — $120,019
“My constituents have continued to voice their concerns over the state of our local roads. This budget and the policy changes we made alongside it will finally ensure a sustained, long-term investment in our local roads,” Victory said.
The 31st Senate District includes parts of Ottawa and Allegan counties.
“The overall budget invests in our local roads, cuts taxes for working families and seniors, and reduces overall government spending,” said Victory, R-Hudsonville.
Within the 31st Senate District, $920,000 was specifically allocated for Blendon Township to help improve its water system, and another $600,000 was awarded to Park Township to support the acquisition of the former U.S. Coast Guard station for use by the fire department’s marine division.
The fiscal year 2026 state budget also invests in a new public safety trust fund, which will make funding available to local governments for law enforcement and community violence intervention. The 31st Senate District will receive more than $630,000 from this fund.
“These projects are significant investments to improve infrastructure and public safety in our communities,” Victory said. “I am glad to have supported funding for these projects and look forward to continuing to advocate for the good folks of West Michigan.”
Of the $25 million in increased funding for infrastructure, Allegan County can expect to receive roughly $6 million to improve local roads. Ottawa County will receive more than $14 million in additional revenue.
Cities and villages will also see an increase in allotments for roads, including:
Zeeland — $275,753
Holland — $1,888,649
Ferrysburg — $162,338
Grand Haven — $542,021
Hudsonville — $347,841
Spring Lake — $120,019
“My constituents have continued to voice their concerns over the state of our local roads. This budget and the policy changes we made alongside it will finally ensure a sustained, long-term investment in our local roads,” Victory said.
The 31st Senate District includes parts of Ottawa and Allegan counties.
Michigan’s ‘Toss Up’ U.S. Senate Race Draws Donors from Other States
(Ed. Note: This story was originally published by Bridge Michigan, a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization. Visit the newsroom online: bridgemi.com.)
By Simon D. Schuster
Bridge Michigan
More than a year out from Michigan’s next U.S. Senate and House elections, millions of dollars are already flowing to candidates — much of it from out of state, reflecting national interest in several battleground races.
Federal candidates on Oct. 15 reported fundraising totals for the past three months, touting enthusiasm as they prepare for 2026 elections.
Here’s what to know:
Stevens narrowly tops Democratic U.S. Senate fundraising
In Michigan’s closely-watched U.S. Senate race to replace retiring Democrat Gary Peters, three Democratic contenders are locked in a close fundraising battle ahead of the August 2026 primary.
U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens of Birmingham led the Democratic field by raising $1.84 million for the quarter. Abdul El-Sayed of Ann Arbor, a former public health official, was close behind with $1.77 million in donations.
State Sen. Mallory McMorrow of Royal Oak raised $1.70 million.
Republican Mike Rogers of White Lake Township, the party’s 2024 nominee who is not facing significant primary opposition as he runs again, raised less than his Democratic counterparts.
But he ended the period in a strong position with $2.7 million in cash reserves, topping all Democratic candidates, including Stevens at $2.6 million, El-Sayed at $1.8 million and McMorrow at 1.5 million.
Rogers brought in about $1.1 million dollars in the third quarter, but also received another $1 million from an associated joint fundraising committee called Team Rogers, which is in turn linked to a super PAC created to support his candidacy in 2024, the Great Lakes Conservative Fund.
Earlier this year, the pro-Rogers super PAC reported $5 million in contributions from Timothy Dunn of Texas, a GOP megadonor and the CEO of CrowQuest Operating, an oil and gas firm.
Rogers also ran for Senate last year but narrowly lost to Democrat Elissa Slotkin by less than one percentage point.
—————
Money flows from other states
Michigan’s 2026 U.S. Senate race is again expected to be one of the most competitive in the country. Experts at the Cook Political Report consider it one of two true “toss ups” for the election cycle.
With all eyes on the state, both Democratic and Republican candidates reported a large volume of contributions from out-of-state donors.
Among itemized contributions, El-Sayed’s campaign reported $488,365 from Michigan donors in the third quarter, or about 36 percent of the money he raised from people who gave at least $200.
That was followed by Stevens at $405,775 (27 percent), McMorrow at $353,880 (44 percent) and Rogers at $212,314 (37 percent).
McMorrow appears to have led the way in small-dollar donations, however. She received $901,000 from people who’ve given her $200 or less, a threshold that does not require campaigns to report where those donors reside. That was more than half her fundraising for the quarter, and her campaigns said her contributions averaged $35.
El-Sayed reported the second largest amount of smaller, unitemized donations, at around $412,000.
McMorrow built a national fundraising presence as a state legislator, after a 2022 viral floor speech in the Michigan Capitol earned her a national profile and a deluge of donations from throughout the country.
El-Sayed and McMorrow have forsworn donations from political action committees representing corporations. Stevens accepted donations from PACs representing private equity giant BlackRock, chip maker Qualcomm and building materials manufacturer Amrize, but only took in about $106,000 in total from PACs for the quarter.
Little spending by outside groups has been reported in the race so far, but a new group called Blue Michigan PAC has spent $22,550 on text messages supporting Stevens.
—————
Competitive House races
In mid-Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, where U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett won election last year by less than four percentage points, the first-term Charlotte Republican raised about $673,000 and received another $151,000 from a related joint fundraising committee.
Democratic hopefuls looking to challenge Barrett in the swing district are also aggressively fundraising, though.
Bridget Brink, a former ambassador to Ukraine, raised more than $600,000 in the quarter, as did Matt Maasdam, a former Navy SEAL. For both candidates the vast majority of their itemized donations came from outside the state. Another Democrat, East Lansing community organizer William Lawrence, raised about $223,000 since launching his campaign in late August.
Brink’s contributors included liberal megadonors such as George and Alex Soros, while Maasdam received donations from U-M Regent Mark Bernstein and former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
In the 4th Congressional District, around Kalamazoo, state Sen. Sean McCann, a Democrat who represents the city, is running to unseat GOP incumbent Bill Huizenga, who won re-election last year by about 12 points.
Their fundraising was close in the latest quarter, with McCann raising about $300,000 — roughly $25,000 less than Huizenga. Jessica Swartz, who was the 2024 Democratic nominee for the seat, raised about $93,000.
Huizenga is sitting on about $1.3 million in cash reserves in his campaign account, while McCann has less than $200,000, but the incumbent has yet to confirm whether he intends to seek reelection for a ninth term.
Over in Macomb County 10th Congressional District, candidates are lining up to try to replace Republican U.S. Rep. John James, who is leaving his seat to run for governor.
Among Democrats, former U.S. Commerce Department attorney Eric Chung raised about $265,000, while Pontiac Mayor Tim Greimel took in about $205,000 and attorney Christina Hines reported raising $174,000.
One Republican, attorney Robert Lulgjuraj, has so far announced a campaign to succeed James, and he far out-raised the Democratic competition, reporting more than $654,000 raised in the first three months of this campaign. The vast majority of the money, at least $588,000, came from donors within Michigan.
In Detroit’s 13th Congressional District, where Democratic U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar is facing a notable primary challenge from state Rep. Donovan McKinney, the fundraising disparity is significant.
Thanedar, a self-made entrepreneur, has dumped millions of his own money into his campaign and is sitting on an $8.3 million war chest. McKinney, who raised about $220,000 in the quarter, has less than $300,000 in the bank.
Thanedar didn’t report a single itemized donation from a Detroit resident in the past quarter, while McKinney had several thousand dollars from Detroiters, along with more than $100,000 in unitemized donations of $200 or less.
By Simon D. Schuster
Bridge Michigan
More than a year out from Michigan’s next U.S. Senate and House elections, millions of dollars are already flowing to candidates — much of it from out of state, reflecting national interest in several battleground races.
Federal candidates on Oct. 15 reported fundraising totals for the past three months, touting enthusiasm as they prepare for 2026 elections.
Here’s what to know:
Stevens narrowly tops Democratic U.S. Senate fundraising
In Michigan’s closely-watched U.S. Senate race to replace retiring Democrat Gary Peters, three Democratic contenders are locked in a close fundraising battle ahead of the August 2026 primary.
U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens of Birmingham led the Democratic field by raising $1.84 million for the quarter. Abdul El-Sayed of Ann Arbor, a former public health official, was close behind with $1.77 million in donations.
State Sen. Mallory McMorrow of Royal Oak raised $1.70 million.
Republican Mike Rogers of White Lake Township, the party’s 2024 nominee who is not facing significant primary opposition as he runs again, raised less than his Democratic counterparts.
But he ended the period in a strong position with $2.7 million in cash reserves, topping all Democratic candidates, including Stevens at $2.6 million, El-Sayed at $1.8 million and McMorrow at 1.5 million.
Rogers brought in about $1.1 million dollars in the third quarter, but also received another $1 million from an associated joint fundraising committee called Team Rogers, which is in turn linked to a super PAC created to support his candidacy in 2024, the Great Lakes Conservative Fund.
Earlier this year, the pro-Rogers super PAC reported $5 million in contributions from Timothy Dunn of Texas, a GOP megadonor and the CEO of CrowQuest Operating, an oil and gas firm.
Rogers also ran for Senate last year but narrowly lost to Democrat Elissa Slotkin by less than one percentage point.
—————
Money flows from other states
Michigan’s 2026 U.S. Senate race is again expected to be one of the most competitive in the country. Experts at the Cook Political Report consider it one of two true “toss ups” for the election cycle.
With all eyes on the state, both Democratic and Republican candidates reported a large volume of contributions from out-of-state donors.
Among itemized contributions, El-Sayed’s campaign reported $488,365 from Michigan donors in the third quarter, or about 36 percent of the money he raised from people who gave at least $200.
That was followed by Stevens at $405,775 (27 percent), McMorrow at $353,880 (44 percent) and Rogers at $212,314 (37 percent).
McMorrow appears to have led the way in small-dollar donations, however. She received $901,000 from people who’ve given her $200 or less, a threshold that does not require campaigns to report where those donors reside. That was more than half her fundraising for the quarter, and her campaigns said her contributions averaged $35.
El-Sayed reported the second largest amount of smaller, unitemized donations, at around $412,000.
McMorrow built a national fundraising presence as a state legislator, after a 2022 viral floor speech in the Michigan Capitol earned her a national profile and a deluge of donations from throughout the country.
El-Sayed and McMorrow have forsworn donations from political action committees representing corporations. Stevens accepted donations from PACs representing private equity giant BlackRock, chip maker Qualcomm and building materials manufacturer Amrize, but only took in about $106,000 in total from PACs for the quarter.
Little spending by outside groups has been reported in the race so far, but a new group called Blue Michigan PAC has spent $22,550 on text messages supporting Stevens.
—————
Competitive House races
In mid-Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, where U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett won election last year by less than four percentage points, the first-term Charlotte Republican raised about $673,000 and received another $151,000 from a related joint fundraising committee.
Democratic hopefuls looking to challenge Barrett in the swing district are also aggressively fundraising, though.
Bridget Brink, a former ambassador to Ukraine, raised more than $600,000 in the quarter, as did Matt Maasdam, a former Navy SEAL. For both candidates the vast majority of their itemized donations came from outside the state. Another Democrat, East Lansing community organizer William Lawrence, raised about $223,000 since launching his campaign in late August.
Brink’s contributors included liberal megadonors such as George and Alex Soros, while Maasdam received donations from U-M Regent Mark Bernstein and former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
In the 4th Congressional District, around Kalamazoo, state Sen. Sean McCann, a Democrat who represents the city, is running to unseat GOP incumbent Bill Huizenga, who won re-election last year by about 12 points.
Their fundraising was close in the latest quarter, with McCann raising about $300,000 — roughly $25,000 less than Huizenga. Jessica Swartz, who was the 2024 Democratic nominee for the seat, raised about $93,000.
Huizenga is sitting on about $1.3 million in cash reserves in his campaign account, while McCann has less than $200,000, but the incumbent has yet to confirm whether he intends to seek reelection for a ninth term.
Over in Macomb County 10th Congressional District, candidates are lining up to try to replace Republican U.S. Rep. John James, who is leaving his seat to run for governor.
Among Democrats, former U.S. Commerce Department attorney Eric Chung raised about $265,000, while Pontiac Mayor Tim Greimel took in about $205,000 and attorney Christina Hines reported raising $174,000.
One Republican, attorney Robert Lulgjuraj, has so far announced a campaign to succeed James, and he far out-raised the Democratic competition, reporting more than $654,000 raised in the first three months of this campaign. The vast majority of the money, at least $588,000, came from donors within Michigan.
In Detroit’s 13th Congressional District, where Democratic U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar is facing a notable primary challenge from state Rep. Donovan McKinney, the fundraising disparity is significant.
Thanedar, a self-made entrepreneur, has dumped millions of his own money into his campaign and is sitting on an $8.3 million war chest. McKinney, who raised about $220,000 in the quarter, has less than $300,000 in the bank.
Thanedar didn’t report a single itemized donation from a Detroit resident in the past quarter, while McKinney had several thousand dollars from Detroiters, along with more than $100,000 in unitemized donations of $200 or less.
