The Senate on Thursday passed a resolution that would withhold their paychecks in times of government shutdown.
The measure had bipartisan support and was initiated by extended and more frequent shutdowns over the past year. Many government employees, such as those who work for TSA, went months without getting paid during the shutdowns causing concern over Congress’ ability to hold up salaries over partisan disagreements.
Under the terms of the resolution, senators’ pay would be withheld by the Secretary of the Senate when a shutdown affects one or more agencies. Once funding is restored, the senators will receive their salary. The new rule will take effect on Nov. 4, the day after the general election.
The House is a part of the rule.
“Shutting down government should not be our default solution to our refusal to work out our issues and our differences,” Senator John Kennedy, R-La, said in a speech on the floor Wednesday. Kennedy is the bill’s sponsor.
“This is about putting our money where our mouth is,” he continued.
The Constitution holds that lawmakers must be paid which meant that while government employees were forced to make ends meet without receiving pay, the very lawmakers who stalled on funding decisions still received paychecks.
Senator Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., proposed a constitutional amendment after the shutdown that began in October over healthcare subsidies.
“If members of Congress had to forfeit their pay during government shutdowns, there would be fewer shutdowns and they would end quicker,” said Graham at the time.
In the first year of Trump’s second presidency, the country experienced two government shutdowns. The shutdowns caused workers severe financial hardship, particularly the Department of Homeland Security. DHS reopened last month after 76 days, the longest in lapse in funding in history.
Members of the Senate make $174,000 per year, although the lionshare of senators have acquired wealth from other sources.
