Democrats tank GOP bill to pay troops, essential workers during govt shutdown

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(The Center Square) – Republicans’ attempts to avert the worst effects of the ongoing government shutdown failed Thursday after Senate Democrats blocked a bill that would ensure essential federal employees are paid on time.

Federal employees considered “essential”, such as air traffic controllers and federal law enforcement, must report to work without pay. The rest are furloughed without pay until the shutdown ends, at which point both groups receive backpay.

The Shutdown Fairness Act, introduced by Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., would have required that essential employees – including active-duty military members and certain federal contractors – receive pay as normal during a federal appropriations lapse.

Sens. John Fetterman, D-Pa.; Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., and Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., were the only Democrats to support advancing the bill in the 55-45 vote.

With senators now leaving for the weekend, the government shutdown will last at least 26 days, approaching the 35-day record. 

The government has remained shuttered since Oct. 1, when Democratic senators refused to provide the necessary votes to pass Republicans’ Continuing Resolution, which would extend federal funding levels until Nov. 21. 

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said his party will lend support only if Republicans promise to renew the pandemic-era expansion of the Obamacare Premium Tax Credit, set to expire Dec. 31.

Republicans refused to make such guarantees without bipartisan talks and accused Democrats of turning the normally bipartisan government funding process into a “political game.”

Negotiations have essentially died as both sides unsuccessfully wait each other out. Senate Democrats filibustered Republicans’ Continuing Resolution for the 12th time Wednesday evening.

In the meantime, the U.S. economy has lost hundreds of billions of dollars in revenue, governors are warning low-income citizens that they may not receive food assistance in November, and millions of federal employees remain unpaid. The Pentagon has already dipped into untapped research and development money in order to fund service members’ Oct. 15 paychecks.

“We’ve heard Democrats criticize @SenRonJohnson’s bill because it would provide pay only to those working through the shutdown. They say they want everyone to get paid,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., posted on X. “Well, I have great news: the clean CR would pay everyone. We just need five more Democrats to support it.”