<p class="p1"><strong>Do members of Congress and their staffs continue to get paid during a government shutdown?</strong></p><p class="p2">House and Senate members continue to receive pay during federal shutdowns, as do some of their staff members.</p><p class="p2">From “Shutdown of the Federal Government: Causes, Processes, and Effects,” a Congressional Research Service report released in November:</p><p class="p2">“Due to their constitutional responsibilities and a permanent appropriation for congressional pay, Members of Congress are not subject to furlough.</p><p class="p2">“Additionally, Article I, Section 6, of the Constitution states that Members of Congress ‘shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States,’ and the 27th Amendment states, ‘No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.’</p><p class="p2">“During a funding gap, pay for congressional employees would not be disbursed if there is no appropriation to fund legislative branch activities. Any decision regarding requirements that a congressional employee continue to work during a government shutdown would appear to fall to his or her employing authority.</p><p class="p2">“Activities of legislative branch agencies would likely also be restricted, in consultation with Congress, to activities required to support Congress with its constitutional responsibilities or those necessary to protect life and property.”</p><p class="p4"><strong>For more info:</strong> <a href="https://fas.org/sgp/crs." target="_blank">https://fas.org/sgp/crs.</a></p><p class="p5"> </p><p class="p6"><strong>Plane used for patrol, damage assessments</strong></p><p class="p1"><strong>How often did the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office use its plane in 2017? How many hours was it flown, and what was it used it for?</strong></p><p class="p2">“The Sheriff’s Office used the plane 142 hours in 2017,” agency spokeswoman Kim Myers wrote in an email.</p><p class="p2">“It was used for patrol support, investigations, narcotics surveillance, damage assessment after natural disasters, and assisting other law enforcement agencies when requested.”</p><p class="p4"><strong>For more info:</strong> <a href="http://www.cpso.com." target="_blank">www.cpso.com.</a></p><p class="p3">l</p><p class="p7">The Informer answers questions from readers each Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It is researched and written by <strong>Andrew Perzo</strong>, an <em>American Press</em> staff writer. To ask a question, call 494-4098 and leave voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com.</p>