Bishop Introduces the Do Your Job Act to Protect Taxpayers

Press Release

Congressman Dan Bishop (NC -- 09) released the following statement after introducing the Do Your Job Act. This bill puts an end to the shameful practice known as "official time," which allows federal government employees to perform union activities while on the taxpayers' dime.

"The abusive practice of allowing union work to occur on official time wastes millions of taxpayer dollars every year, as federal employees use paid time off to perform official union duties. By amending the Civil Service Reform Act, we can ensure that Americans' hard-earned tax dollars go toward the public services they are intended for, not union interests. But as it stands, some of these federal employees can lobby Congress for desired outcomes or even spend 100 percent of their time on union representative functions. This has to change," said Rep. Dan Bishop.

The Do Your Job Act is a crucial step to draining the swamp and bringing an end to one of the federal bureaucracy's many abusive practices. The effort is supported by groups that seek to protect taxpayer interests, including the National Right to Work Committee, FreedomWorks, National Taxpayers Union, and Americans for Prosperity.

Original co-sponsors of the legislation include: Reps. Darrell Issa, Mo Brooks, Matt Gaetz, Burgess Owens, Ralph Norman, Scott Perry, Joe Wilson, Tracey Mann, Jim Banks, Louie Gohmert, Tom McClintock, and Debbie Lesko.

"We are proud to stand alongside Congressman Bishop in calling on Congress to pass the Do Your Job Act. This bill will end the outrageous payment of tax dollars to union officials pretending to be government employees. Labor unions are private organizations pursuing their own interests -- not those of taxpayers. As such, Big Labor should have no more influence over government policy than any other private entity. They certainly shouldn't be collecting government paychecks for non-government work." -- Mark Mix, President, National Right to Work Committee

"What this bill requires is simple -- that federal employees actually do the jobs they were hired to do. Only in Washington could this be a tall order. It is wholly unacceptable that more than $100 million taxpayer dollars are misused year after year to pay federal employees who perform union business while on the clock, at the literal expense of the American public. Congressman Bishop is right to call out this practice and push to end it." -- Adam Brandon, President, FreedomWorks

"For many years, attempts to more carefully monitor official time, executive orders to revise the practice, and other attempts by federal managers to get clarity on the rules have failed -- and taxpayers have footed a steep bill in the process. The Do Your Job Act is an important part of the major reform effort needed for how Washington works, along with more effective oversight of agencies and whistleblower protections that are funded more consistently and transparently." -- Pete Sepp, President, National Taxpayers Union

"Federal employees should spend their time on the clock doing what they were hired to do, not using taxpayer dollars to conduct union activities. Americans for Prosperity supports the Do Your Job Act to end the use of official time in the federal workforce. AFP supports the freedom of association, but it should be voluntary and union activity should be done during personal time, not while on the clock as a federal employee." -- Brent Gardner, Chief Government Affairs Officer, Americans for Prosperity.

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