SouthernWorldwide.com – The U.S. Senate is poised to vote on a measure that could impact lawmakers’ salaries during a potential government shutdown, as concerns over further closures intensify.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has scheduled a vote on a proposal that would halt pay for senators if the government shuts down. This measure represents a last resort tactic that has become increasingly common during President Donald Trump’s second term.
The resolution, introduced by Senator John Kennedy, R-La., is straightforward: if another shutdown occurs, senators will not receive their pay. This is one of several proposals being considered by lawmakers aimed at preventing shutdowns or at least creating leverage to avoid them.
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Thune facilitated the vote on Kennedy’s resolution upon the Senate’s return on Monday. This action comes as lawmakers are preparing to fund immigration operations for the next three and a half years, a path necessitated by the consequences of the most recent shutdown.
When asked about his resolution being brought to a vote, Kennedy stated that he had urged Thune to do so. He expressed his appreciation for Thune’s action, calling him “a fine American.”
Government shutdowns have become a frequent negotiation tactic employed by Democrats over the past year and a half. During Trump’s second term alone, Congress has faced the brink of a shutdown on four separate occasions.
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These shutdown confrontations have previously resulted in the longest full government shutdown in history and the longest partial closure ever recorded.
The reality of Democrats utilizing shutdowns as a political weapon, in a manner unprecedented in recent congressional history, has raised concerns among some Republicans. They fear a repeat before the November midterm elections.
Senator Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., has characterized Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and the Democrats as “legislative terrorists” who exploit political opportunities by forcing government closures.
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Schmitt suggested that the issue could once again revolve around Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), or it could be something entirely different.
“It’ll be something else, and then we’ll just shut the whole thing down, and we should not, you know, let them do that,” Schmitt stated. “So I think we ought to have some plans in place to account for that, to make it painful for them if they want to do that, because the American people suffer on it.”
Kennedy is not the only lawmaker seeking to remove the shutdown option from the table. Senator Ron Johnson, R-Wis., has been advocating for his Shutdown Fairness Act, which would ensure that essential federal workers continue to be paid during a shutdown.
Additionally, Senator James Lankford, R-Okla., has proposed his own legislation, the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act. This bill would automatically fund the government in two-week increments until Congress reaches a consensus on a long-term funding agreement.
