With no end in sight to the partial government shutdown, House Republicans introduced legislation Wednesday that would ensure pay for federal workers still working.
“If they work to protect America, they should be paid on time. We should not force these men and women to bear the burden of Democrats’ unwillingness to work with the GOP to address the humanitarian and security crisis on our southern border,” said Ohio Republican Bob Gibbs, who introduced the legislation with North Carolina Rep. Mark Meadows, D-N.Y. Indiana Susan Brooks, Colorado Rep. Scott Tipton and Virginia Rep. Morgan Griffith.
Similar legislation has been introduced by Alabama Republican Mo Brooks and Florida Republican Bill Posey that would pay crucial federal workers.
“Ordering a federal employee to work without being paid on time is morally wrong and contrary to every economic principle on which the free enterprise system is based,” Brooks said.
Meadows also proposed separate legislation that would allow federal employees to make withdrawals from their Thrift Savings Plan accounts during the government shutdown.
The bills were proposed Tuesday amid speculation that Republicans could begin to crack under the pressure of a shutdown that would be the longest in history if it lasts through Saturday. But on Tuesday, Republicans insisted they did they still expect a Republican majority vote this week against Democratic bills that aim to fund the government without Trump’s border wall. (Washington Examiner)
Democrats are hoping Republicans will relent when federal workers go without pay starting Friday.
“Because this really hits home, because we’re going to miss the first paycheck, we think Republicans are starting to respond and understand that we need a comprehensive immigration reform plan, we need to have a discussion about national security, but without holding our federal workers hostage,” he said Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass.
