Montana Congressman Steve Daines, R-Bozeman, introduced his first piece of legislation last week, the Balanced Budget Accountability Act.

The bill requires Congress to be accountable to the American people by passing a budget that will balance in 10 years or else members will see their pay terminated.

Like the No Budget, No Pay Act signed into law by President Barack Obama on Feb. 4, Daines’ bill forces Congress to be accountable to the American people.

But Daines’ legislation marks the next step in this process by requiring Congress to pass a balanced budget in 10 years. If such a budget is not passed by April 15 — the legal requirement for Congress to have passed a budget — members would see their pay terminated.

“This is common sense,” Daines said. “The American people deserve a balanced budget. Unfortunately, Washington remains unwilling to take the steps needed to get our country back on solid fiscal ground. The Balanced Budget Accountability Act reflects the things we’ve seen work in Montana — common sense business principles that protect hardworking taxpayers, making elected officials accountable to the people they serve and, of course, balancing the budget. We must make smart decisions today so that we can give to the next generation what they’ve been promised. The Balanced Budget Accountability Act will help us do that.”