The bill, sponsored by Republican Senator Ron Johnson, the Government Shutdown Fairness Act, It did not achieve the 60 votes necessary to advance in the Senate. The final result was 54 to 45.
The Republican project, by Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, would pay essential workers who still have to go to work during the current government shutdown and any future shutdowns.
“It would forever end this trend of federal workers paying for our dysfunction,” Johnson declared.
However, Democrats argued that the bill gives the president too much freedom to decide who gets paid during the shutdown.
According to the opposition, the legislation is unfair to workers who are on involuntary leave and could give Cabinet secretaries too much discretion over who gets paid.
Johnson’s bill “is just another tool for Trump to hurt federal workers and American families and keep this shutdown going for as long as he wants.”“said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer.
In this context, since Congress has not reached an agreement, money for essential services could soon reach a crisis point.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Thursday that his message to air traffic controllers during the government shutdown is “come to work, even if you don’t get a paycheck.”
Payments for federal food and heating assistance could also soon run out, along with funding for Head Start preschool programs, several states have warned.
Thus, Democrats are awaiting negotiations with Republicans as they seek to extend subsidies that began in 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and expire at the end of the year.
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