Senator Pay Will Be Withheld During Shutdowns After Midterms

Senators’ paychecks will be withheld during future government shutdowns, a move aimed at providing an additional incentive to avoid funding lapses.

The Senate adopted the resolution (S. Res. 526) from Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) by a voice vote on Thursday. It would delay paying senators when there’s a shutdown, beginning after November’s midterm elections. Funding impasses between the parties have repeatedly led to shutdowns in this Congress, where government employees work without pay while lawmakers would continue to collect pay.

Read More: Senators Advance Resolution to Block Their Pay During Shutdowns

Pay for lawmakers is mandated in the Constitution and continues regardless of whether Congress funds the government. The resolution looks to get around that requirement by directing the secretary of the Senate to disburse and then hold any payments until after a shutdown ends. The move only applies to senators.