The Senate unanimously approved a measure on Thursday to withhold senators' pay during future federal government shutdowns. The resolution, which cleared a key initial procedural hurdle on Wednesday, ensures that lawmakers will forgo their paychecks during any lapse in funding for federal agencies.
This move is aimed at providing an additional incentive to avoid funding lapses by making federal closures financially painful for lawmakers. The measure follows a series of record-breaking and record-setting funding impasses over the past year that fueled widespread criticism of lawmakers.
The bipartisan support for the measure arrives as federal shutdowns have become longer and more frequent, sparking frustration among those who argue there should be punishment when Congress fails at its most basic legislative duty. Louisiana Senator John Kennedy, who sponsored the bill, stated that shutting down the government should not be the default.