Senate adopts resolution to withhold senators' pay during shutdowns

Washington — The Senate unanimously agreed to follow a solution connected Thursday that volition withhold senators' wage during a lapse successful backing for immoderate national agency, pursuing 2 lengthy and record-breaking shutdowns successful caller months that person taken a toll connected national workers.

Led by GOP Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana, the resolution directs the caput of the Senate to withhold wage from senators during a lapse successful appropriations for 1 oregon much national agencies oregon departments. The payments would beryllium released aft the shutdown comes to an end. 

The solution was adopted by unanimous consent Thursday. The enclosure voted 99-0 to beforehand the measurement earlier this week.

Kennedy called it "shared sacrifice," pointing to however national employees mostly spell without wage during a shutdown.

Last year, the authorities was shut down for 43 days arsenic Democrats successful Congress protested the expiration of healthcare subsidies. Months later, the Department of Homeland Security unopen down amid an impasse successful Congress implicit reforms for its migration enforcement agencies. That shutdown ended precocious past period aft 76 days. 

"We ought to fell our heads successful a bag," Kennedy said connected the Senate level arsenic helium pointed to the shutdown record. "It's got to stop. Shutting down authorities — it should not beryllium our default solution to our refusal to enactment retired our issues and our differences." 

The resolution, which applies lone to the Senate, volition instrumentality effect aft November's election. 

Kennedy said helium would marque the solution instrumentality effect instantly if helium could, noting that he's "very acrophobic that my Senate colleagues connected the Democratic broadside are going to effort to unopen down authorities yet again close earlier the elections." 

But the 27th Amendment to the Constitution prevents immoderate alteration successful subordinate wage from taking effect until aft the adjacent predetermination has occurred.

The Louisiana Republican noted that the solution won't "stop each shutdowns," but "maybe this volition help."