Senate to Vote on Blocking Lawmakers' Pay in Future Shutdowns as Congress Nears a 5th Standoff
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 12
Senate to Vote on Blocking Lawmakers' Pay in Future Shutdowns as Congress Nears a 5th Standoff
5 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 12
John Thune set up a Senate vote on Sen. John Kennedy’s resolution to withhold senators’ pay during any future government shutdown, putting the measure on the floor as lawmakers returned Monday.
The push reflects Republican fears of another funding lapse before November after Congress came close to shutting down four times in Trump’s second term and already endured record-long full and partial closures.
Republicans say Democrats have used shutdown threats as leverage, with Eric Schmitt warning the next clash could again center on ICE funding as Congress prepares immigration funding for the next 3½ years.
Other GOP proposals aim to blunt shutdown damage rather than just punish lawmakers, including Ron Johnson’s bill to pay working federal employees and James Lankford’s plan for automatic two-week stopgap funding.
Will withholding congressional pay be enough to prevent the economic damage caused by future shutdowns?
What are the long-term consequences for federal workers who repeatedly face furloughs and pay delays?
Why does the U.S. government shut down during funding gaps while other nations do not?