(WASHINGTON) — There are going to be a different sorts of government funding votes on Thursday as the ongoing shutdown reaches in 23rd day.
The Senate on Thursday will vote on a bill put forward by Republican Sen. Ron Johnson called the “Shutdown Fairness Act.” While the bill would not end the shutdown, it would allow some federal employees to get paid.
Johnson’s bill would provide appropriations to pay the troops and “excepted employees” of federal agencies being affected by the shutdown. That includes employees determined by the Office of Personnel Management to be performing emergency work, or for contractors who provide support to those employees.
Meanwhile Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen said he’d offer an alternative bill to Johnson’s that would pay all federal employees.
Johnson urged his colleagues to support the bill and slammed Democrats ahead of Wednesday night’s note to fund the government — which failed to advance for the 12th time.
“If Democrats vote for a 12th time to keep the government shut down, they should at least vote to pay those who are still working,” Johnson wrote on X Wednesday. “It’s common sense and common courtesy — there’s no excuse to oppose the Shutdown Fairness Act.”
The bill would need 60 votes to pass and it’s unclear if it will get the support it needs to pass.
The vote on this bill comes as federal workers will miss their first full paycheck on Friday.
The legislation puts Democrats in an interesting spot, as Republicans will work to brand votes against this bill as votes against paying federal workers.
Over the last few days, several Democrats have said that they support paying federal employees — but some have added that they oppose the bill because it gives too broad of discretion to the White House and Office of Management and Budget to determine who is considered essential enough to be paid.
“Ron Johnson’s bill would essentially weaponize the government shutdown to allow President Trump to decide who works and gets paid and who doesn’t work and doesn’t get paid,” Van Hollen said. “Our belief is that no federal employee, no one should bear the burden or be punished for a shutdown they have nothing to do with. So our view is that we want to make sure everybody gets paid at the end of the day.”
When pressed on why he would not, therefore, support the clean bill Republican’s have put forward 11 times, Van Hollen said it’s important to both pay Americans and protect health care.
“Of course we want to open the government. That’s the best way to address this issue. We also need to address these other big issues,” Van Hollen said.
Van Hollen said he will likely offer his counter proposal on the floor and seek unanimous consent for its passage. It will almost certainly be blocked.
Republican Sen. Rick Scott said he intends to support Johnson’s bill.
When asked by ABC News about concerns raised by Democrats about the discretion the bill lends to the White House to determine who gets paid, Scott said Democrats should vote to reopen the government.
“You know how to make sure everybody gets paid?” Scott asked. “Vote for the CR.”
If Johnson’s bill passes, the House would have to return from recess to take it up in order for it to pass.
No vote is expected for Thursday on the clean short-term funding bill. With senators leaving town for the weekend, this shutdown will drag on to Monday.
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