The U.S. Senate unanimously approved a resolution to withhold senators' pay during future government shutdowns. The measure, sponsored by Senator John Kennedy (R-La.), received bipartisan support, including from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). This decision comes in response to recent government shutdowns that have caused significant financial hardship for federal workers.
Key Takeaways
The U.S. Senate unanimously approved a resolution to withhold senators' pay during future government shutdowns. The measure was sponsored by Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) and received bipartisan support, including from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). This comes after two significant shutdowns in the past year, one lasting 43 days and another affecting the Department of Homeland Security for 76 days. The resolution is set to take effect after the midterm elections this November.
- Senators unanimously approve pay withholding during government shutdowns
- Resolution sponsored by Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.)
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer supports the measure
- Two major shutdowns occurred in the past year, lasting 43 and 76 days respectively
- Resolution to take effect after midterm elections
According to multiple reports, the resolution will take effect after the midterm elections this November. Senator John Kennedy emphasized the need for accountability, stating, 'We ought to hide our heads in a bag,' regarding recent shutdowns. He further noted, 'It's got to stop. Shutting down government — it should not be our default solution.'
The most recent Department of Homeland Security shutdown lasted 76 days and ended late last month. Last year, the majority of the federal government was shut down for 43 days due to expired healthcare subsidies. These prolonged shutdowns have highlighted the financial strain on federal workers and the need for a more effective solution.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) suggested that Democratic support for the measure was politically motivated, telling Fox News Digital that Democrats realized it would be a bad political posture to oppose the measure while government employees were not getting paid. Meanwhile, Republicans are preparing to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol for the next three and a half years through budget reconciliation.
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