Bill Overview
Title: No Pay Until Peace Act
Description: This bill eliminates one month of a Member of Congress's pay for each month during which a mass shooting (four or more deaths in a single incident by the use of a firearm) occurs.
Sponsors: Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
Target Audience
Population: People in the United States, particularly those affected by mass shootings and gun violence
Estimated Size: 5000000
- The bill directly affects Members of Congress, but its primary goal is to influence legislation affecting gun violence.
- The legislation aims to target the policy-making decisions of Members of Congress by tying their income to the occurrence of mass shootings.
- There are 435 Members of the US House of Representatives and 100 US Senators, totaling 535 individuals directly subjected to this pay adjustment.
Reasoning
- The policy directly targets Congress members, withholding pay to incentivize more action towards reducing gun violence.
- Although not directly altering Americans' day-to-day lives, the policy aims at long-term social change, potentially leading to a reduction in mass shootings.
- For gun violence victims' families and at-risk communities, this could improve safety perceptions and future wellbeing.
- Some individuals may not notice a direct change, especially those not immediately affected by mass shootings.
- Policy costs focus on lost congressional pay, not implementation, so the financial feasibility needs careful consideration.
Simulated Interviews
Teacher (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe this policy could push Congress to act faster on gun control measures.
- If it reduces the number of shootings, it would make me feel safer sending my kids to school.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Software Engineer (Denver, CO)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Interesting approach, though I don't see how senators losing a bit of pay will really change anything quickly.
- Around here, most people talk about needing better mental healthcare more than gun laws.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Police Officer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Holding Congress accountable is necessary, but there needs to be support for local police and communities too.
- I hope it leads to comprehensive reforms, not just financial penalties.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired (Tampa, FL)
Age: 70 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This might pressure Congress, but I am skeptical about actual outcomes.
- Efforts need to be broader than just financial penalties to see significant changes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Community Organizer (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a novel approach and could bring attention to legislative accountability.
- We need more than this, like supporting survivors and mental health initiatives.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
College Student (Columbus, OH)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a wake-up call for policymakers.
- As a student, I'm hoping it will make campuses safer in the long run.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Small Business Owner (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any policy keeping Congress alert to this issue is good.
- What I want to know is how this will actually reduce shootings.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Legislative Aid (Austin, TX)
Age: 66 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This might apply pressure, but real change requires comprehensive legislative action.
- We should focus on broader reforms for lasting impact.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Nurse (Seattle, WA)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If this means fewer gunshot victims, I'm all for it.
- We need to support the healthcare side of it too—mental and physical health services.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Manufacturing Worker (Detroit, MI)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a start, better than nothing, but we need much more comprehensive solutions.
- Hope it leads to reduced violence around here.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $120420000 (Low: $60000000, High: $180000000)
Year 2: $120420000 (Low: $60000000, High: $180000000)
Year 3: $120420000 (Low: $60000000, High: $180000000)
Year 5: $120420000 (Low: $60000000, High: $180000000)
Year 10: $120420000 (Low: $60000000, High: $180000000)
Year 100: $120420000 (Low: $60000000, High: $180000000)
Key Considerations
- The actual impact on member behavior and subsequent legislation is largely unquantifiable.
- This policy could encourage legislative action towards reducing mass shootings.
- Estimation complexity increases due to unpredictable number of annual qualifying mass shootings.