IL Democrat Wants To Keep Paul Ryan Out Of Gym During Shutdown

NAPERVILLE, IL — As the latest government shutdown continues, Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL 11) wants to make sure soon-to-retire House Speaker Paul Ryan can no longer let off steam at the gym and sauna he and other elected officials frequent. Foster introduced legislation to close the gym amid and also introduced legislation to retroactively pay federal employees during the shutdown, according to a press release.

Foster took aim at Ryan and other Republicans in a statement about the use of the taxpayer-funded sauna, gym, and steam room, which still requires employees to replenish towels and other supplies.

"Speaker Ryan continues to use the gym during this shutdown while federal workers face uncertainty over the holidays," Foster said. "The only essential task Members of Congress have during a government shutdown is negotiating an end to the shutdown."

Foster's proposed Shutdown Prioritization Act would shut down the gym in the case of this and future government shutdowns. Foster's Federal Employees’ Retroactive Pay Fairness Act would reimburse federal employees impacted by the shutdown.

Nearly half a million federal employees have been affected by the most recent government shutdown, which stemmed from the president and some lawmakers hoping to force border wall funding into spending packages.

Foster has been outspoken about the government shutdown and its timing, saying that it "created unnecessary uncertainty for hardworking families and businesses right before the holidays."

Related: Post-Holiday, Partial Government Shutdown To Gain Impact

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