Senate takes major first step to prevent future shutdowns with painful accountability play
The Senate is one step closer to adding painful consequences for lawmakers who choose to shut down the government. The upper chamber on Wednesday unanimously advanced a resolution from Sen....
By Fox News · Fox News
The Senate is one step closer to adding painful consequences for lawmakers who choose to shut down the government. The upper chamber on Wednesday unanimously advanced a resolution from Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., that, if passed, would prevent lawmakers from getting paid during future shutdowns. It comes after the once-rare occurrence became a political cudgel wielded by Democrats time and again in the last year. Despite having spurred the two longest shutdowns in history, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Democrats joined Republicans to move the measure along for a final vote. SCHUMER BACKS GOP'S PLAN TO BRING THE PAIN DURING FUTURE SHUTDOWNS: 'I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR IT' But its success through the first hurdle has not quite sated concerns that Democrats will again try to force another shutdown before the midterm elections in the fall. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told Fox News Digital that its success "helps" but suggested that the move from Democrats was more political than not. "I think it's, they realize, I mean, that's a really bad posture to be in if you're opposing something like that at a time when you got a lot of government employees who aren't getting paid, and, you know, people up here are voting against depriving themselves of pay when everybody else is not getting paid," Thune said. SENATE REPUBLICANS BALK AT $1B WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM REQUEST: ‘YOU MADE THAT NUMBER UP’ "So I just think that's a very difficult political vote for Democrats," he continued. "I think they've recognized it, and I’m guessing they had a fairly robust conversation at their lunch yesterday." Kennedy’s resolution, which he described as a resolution of "shared sacrifice," can’t take effect until after the upcoming election cycle, adding more concern that Democrats may be tempted to repeat the cycle. "If I were king for a day — I'm not, I don't aspire to be — but if I were, I'd make this resolution effective immediately," Kennedy said. "Because I'…