Discretionary income: Himes donates shutdown pay to charities

U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., is $5,400 lighter in the wallet.

The 4th District congressman wrote personal checks to three Fairfield County charitable organizations over the weekend for $1,800 each, making good on his promise to donate his wages from the 16-day government shutdown on October that forced federal lawmakers to furlough most non-essential staffers.

Himes Tweeted a photo of three envelopes with the hand-written names and addresses of the recipients on them.

The charities are the Action for Bridgeport Community Development Inc., an anti-poverty 501(c)3; the Boys and Girls Club of Stamford; and the Carver Center of Norwalk, a foundation that helps children.

In addition to Himes, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., pledged to donate his daily salary of $476 during the shutdown to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Neil Vigdor