Senate Democrats Block Pay Bill, Essential Workers Left Unpaid Amid Shutdown

Senate Democrats blocked a Republican Party-led bill to pay essential workers during a 23-day shutdown, highlighting partisan conflicts in the United States Senate amid ongoing negotiations.

• The United States Senate witnessed a failed Republican Party attempt to pass a pay bill for essential workers, which fell short with a 54-45 vote against the needed 60 votes.
• Democrats criticized the proposed legislation by Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and Todd Young, R-Ind., labeling it as overly selective and incomplete during the ongoing shutdown of the Federal government of the United States.
• Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., accused Democrats of engaging in a political game, as discussions around funding continued amid the implications of the shutdown on essential workers.