SouthernWorldwide.com – In a significant move aimed at aligning the financial consequences of government shutdowns with those experienced by federal workers, senators have agreed to forgo their salaries during future shutdowns.
The Senate unanimously passed a resolution to withhold senators’ pay in the event of a shutdown. This decision is intended to make government closures more impactful for lawmakers, potentially deterring future closures.
Senator John Kennedy, R-La., a key proponent of the measure, described the decision as a “shared sacrifice.” He highlighted that tens of thousands of federal employees have gone without pay during the two recent government shutdowns within the past year.
Kennedy recounted the experiences of federal workers during these closures. “Last October, we shut down the government for 43 days. That is the longest shutdown in history. And we had FBI agents, national park rangers, CDC scientists, our staff here in Congress — nobody was getting paid,” he stated on the Senate floor.
He further elaborated on the frequency of these disruptions. “And then, three months later, after we finally got out of that 43-day shutdown, we shut down the Department of Homeland Security. It was shut down for 76 days. This is all in one year,” he continued, expressing his dismay. “We ought to hide our heads in a bag. It’s got to stop.”
These shutdowns had tangible effects on Americans, particularly those using air travel. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers were among those who did not receive their paychecks during these prolonged closures.
Kennedy’s resolution specifically targets senators’ pay. It mandates that the Secretary of the Senate withhold their salaries until a shutdown is resolved. Essentially, their paychecks would be placed in escrow.
Once an agreement is reached and the government reopens, the withheld salaries would then be disbursed.
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The annual salary for a rank-and-file senator is $174,000. Leaders of either party can earn upwards of $193,000 annually.
This measure is part of a broader effort by lawmakers to make government shutdowns a self-inflicted consequence for those in power, or to prevent them from occurring altogether.
Other legislative proposals aim to mitigate the impact of shutdowns. Senator Ron Johnson, R-Wis., has introduced a bill, supported by federal labor unions, that would ensure federal workers are paid during a shutdown.
Senator James Lankford, R-Okla., has proposed legislation designed to prevent shutdowns entirely. His bill would automatically extend funding for two-week periods if a shutdown is imminent.
Historically, government shutdowns were considered a last resort. However, the past year has demonstrated a willingness from Senate Democrats to utilize this measure as a political tool.
Despite receiving support from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Republicans remain cautious. They express concern that Senate Democrats might still pursue shutdowns before the upcoming midterm elections.
It is important to note that Kennedy’s resolution will not take effect until after the November election cycle. This means that current lawmakers would not have their paychecks withheld in the event of a shutdown before that date.
