WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate passed a resolution Thursday with unanimous support that would suspend senators’ salaries during government shutdowns, marking an effort to create financial consequences for lawmakers following a series of lengthy federal closures over the past year.
The measure received backing from both parties as federal shutdowns have grown more prolonged and common, leading to frustration among legislators who believe there should be consequences when Congress cannot fulfill its fundamental responsibility of funding the government.
According to the resolution, the secretary of the Senate would hold back senators’ salaries whenever a government shutdown impacts one or more federal agencies. The pay would be returned once government funding resumes.
“Shutting down government should not be our default solution to our refusal to work out our issues and our differences,” said Sen. John Kennedy, the bill’s sponsor, in a floor speech Wednesday.
“This is about putting our money where our mouth is,” said Kennedy, R-La.
