What to know on Day 23 of the government shutdown:
The Senate failed to advance a GOP-backed measure that would pay federal employees, military members and contractors who have continued to work during the government shutdown, now on Day 23.
The bill, known as the Shutdown Fairness Act and introduced by GOP Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, needed Democratic support to reach the 60 votes required to advance. It fell short with a tally of 54 to 45, with three Democrats crossing the aisle: John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, and Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock of Georgia.
Republicans said the legislation would bring needed relief to those federal workers who have remained on the job and are due to miss paychecks. Democrats argued that the bill would give the president broad authority to determine who gets paid and who doesn’t. They offered their own pair of bills that would have paid federal workers, but Republicans objected, and they did not receive votes.
The Senate adjourned until Monday without taking a 13th vote on the House-passed funding bill, almost certainly stretching the shutdown into next week.
