Brian Walter gave Kingfisher Lions Club members and guests an update on the progress of Unity Above Self when he addressed the civic group last week.

Unity Above Self is a movement he started to get U.S. House of Representatives members and senators to co-sponsor a bill to pass the national budget in a timely manner and eventually balance our national budget each year and thus commit to “bend the curve” toward eliminating our national debt.

Walter said he felt compelled to begin the project after visiting on several occasions with U.S. Senator Dr. Tom Coburn, now deceased, on the subject.

He said before his death that Coburn told him that he was in bad health and could no longer participate, but he challenged Walter to continue the quest.

Walter said to date that all of Oklahoma’s representatives and senators had committed to “No Budget, No Pay” in which if a budget was not passed on time each year, they would not be paid.

“I think we, nationally, need to change the incentive for our representatives and senators to work together to do their jobs,” he said.

Walter said he is now working to get the state of Wyoming senators to sign as co-sponsors.

“It’s been a challenge to get back on track because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but we are now focusing on senators outside of our state,” he said. “It’s a struggle.”

Walter said he had three books that he used as his guide: The Bible, the U.S. Constitution and Coburn’s book, “D.C. Monopoly.”

He played a short video that he and his friend John Gooden (who was also a guest at the meeting) had compiled, the theme of which stressed sacrifice and patriotism.

“It’s absolute foolishness for any of us to think that we can keep piling on trillions and trillions of dollars of debt each year and not bankrupt our nation,” Walter said.

The No Budget, No Pay Act was introduced by Rep. Jim Cooper of Tennessee in 2013.

It would prevent House and Senate members from receiving their salary if they miss annual deadlines for budget and appropriations bills and would not be paid retroactively.

The bill would force members to work together to pass bipartisan legislation and prevent damaging government shutdowns that hurt families and embarrass America, Walter said.

It states that the government should never shut down because Congress refuses to do its job and the pay incentive has been proven to work.

Congress overwhelmingly passed a version of Rep. Cooper’s No Budget, No Pay Act in 2013. However, the bill was temporary and has since expired.

“Congress is the only place in America where you get paid for showing up, but not doing your work,” Rep. Cooper said at the time. “I would rather reward members for good behavior. But the reality is when you threaten members of Congress, Congress finds a way to do its job.”

Cooper is also a long-time cosponsor of the Hold Congress Accountable Act, which would prevent members of Congress from being paid in the event of a government shutdown for as long as the shutdown continues.

“I want to stress that this movement is not just me, by myself,” Walter said. “I encourage and need help from all who feel that this is a desperate battle that must be fought. It takes patriots and I hope and believe that there are many in this very room. Please contact me if you would like to help.”

Walter concluded by saying that he felt compelled to complete the job, no matter how long it took.

Walter was introduced to the group by Lions club member Jeff Minnis.