A proposal by Republicans would withhold Congress pay if they can't pass a budget.

The last time the Democratic-led Senate passed a budget was on April 29, 2009.

Gas prices were $1.85 or even less. The first iPad hadn't even been introduced to the market, let alone the iPad 2 and IPad mini.

Almost four years later with no change apparently in sight, Republicans in Congress have decided they would like for the US Senate to do its job, or have its pay held.

Does that sound fair?

According to a report, the proposal by Republicans would withhold Congress’ paychecks after April 15, 2013 if it couldn’t agree on a fiscal year 2014 budget.

The report notes that the US Congress would still get paid eventually, the checks would be held in a trust.

The "money would be held in an escrow account and given back to Congress members when a budget was passed or at the end of the current 113th Congress in January 1, 2015," a report reveals.

Does that violate the 27th amendment?

That fairly recent amendment was designed to stop the US Congress from voting itself pay raises and says: “No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.”

That amendment was approved in 1992.

In other words, a sitting Congress can’t change its pay while it is in session.

Some believe that means Congress must be paid, even if they refuse to do their job, as withholding their pay would be "changing their pay."

The measure by Republicans was introduced on Monday.

(Image: WENN)