The Senate is set to vote Thursday on advancing a measure to pay federal employees who are working through the shutdown, as Republican leaders put pressure on Democrats who have largely remained opposed to efforts to restart funding.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune earlier this week teed up consideration of the measure, which he said “essentially would pay anybody who’s currently working.” The procedural vote on advancing the measure would require 60 votes to succeed.
The bill, known as the Shutdown Fairness Act and sponsored by GOP Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, would pay “excepted” federal employees whose work is considered essential during a period of lapsed funding. Those workers continue to work but don’t get back pay until the shutdown is over. Nonessential workers are placed on furlough but also get back pay.
Johnson’s bill would appropriate “such sums as are necessary” to pay the non-furloughed workers while the shutdown is ongoing. It would also pay members of the military, as well as contractors who support excepted employees and are “required to perform work during a lapse in appropriations.”
But moving forward on the legislation would require support from Democrats, who have argued that all federal workers, including those on furlough, should be paid. Some have warned that the bill would give the administration broad authority over who gets a paycheck and who doesn’t.
Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, told reporters earlier this week that the bill “allows Donald Trump to pay who he likes and not pay who he doesn’t like,” arguing that it gives “enormous discretion on who he chooses to pay and not pay.”
“We know what will happen — any agencies that he doesn’t like won’t get paid,” Murphy said. “If you criticize him, you’re not essential and you don’t get paid. If you kiss his ass, you’ll be essential and you’ll get paid.”
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