US Senators Vote to Withhold Own Pay in Government Shutdowns
US senators agreed unanimously Thursday to suspend their own pay during government shutdowns, in an effort to force Congress to share the financial pain after a series of funding standoffs that upended the federal government.
The measure reflects growing political sensitivity around shutdowns after federal agencies were at least partially shuttered for much of the past eight months, disrupting services, delaying benefits and intensifying frustration with Washington dysfunction.
Sponsored by Republican John Kennedy of Louisiana, it directs the upper chamber to withhold senators’ salaries whenever funding lapses for at least one federal agency or department. Lawmakers would receive the withheld pay only after the shutdown ends.
The resolution applies only to senators and does not require approval from the House of Representatives or President Donald Trump. Because of constitutional restrictions on changing congressional pay, it will not take effect until after the November midterm elections.
The vote came after an extraordinary stretch of funding crises since President Donald Trump returned to office. (Read more from “US Senators Vote to Withhold Own Pay in Government Shutdowns” HERE)
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