AURORA | Congressman Mike Coffman and two other Colorado federal lawmakers are donating their salaries collected during the 16-day partial government shutdown to charities, while another is donating his money to the U.S. Treasury.
U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman is giving his money to the Aurora Red Cross chapter.
“Today, I donated my salary for each day the government was shut down to the American Red Cross of Colorado to aid in Colorado flood relief efforts,” Coffman said in a statement.
The donation was for 16 days of government shutdown totaling $7,733.28. Coffman said he refused to take a salary “while the Congress is so dysfunctional that it shutdown.” Mike chose to donate his salary from the government shutdown to the Red Cross specifically, because of their efforts rebuilding after the Colorado floods.
U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, whose staff says the Boulder Democrat normally gives all his salary to charity, will give his shutdown portion back to the federal government for debt relief.
Sen. Michael Bennet is donating his shutdown pay to the Weld County Food Bank, and Rep. Cory Gardner is donating part of his salary to the food bank and the rest to other charities in his district.