Re "essential" Federal employees and the media assertion that they (e.g. the Military or ATC) are not getting paid: Their pay is based on the PRIOR pay period, either two-weeks or even an estimate based on the prior month. So it won't be until / if this shut-down goes into February that we may start seeing no paychecks being issued. HOWEVER, these employees (in that event) WILL get back-pay after the shutdown is over. See the below re military pay. I think any shutdown is stupid, these people in Congress should have had this wrapped up months ago. If THEIR pay was held back, you bet your ass they'd be working on something well in advance.
https://www.military.com/paycheck-ch...culated-monthl
Re how this didn’t pass with a Republican-majority Congress:
The House passed a bill, then it was sent to the Senate. The Senate requires 60 votes to pass. They didn’t have anywhere near that many Yes votes on the bill on the table.
Right now, there are 49 Democrats and 51 Republican Senators. There are not 60 Republicans in the Senate. Last night, they voted on a “CR” (continuing resolution) which extends the deadline.
5 Democrats voted Yes, and 4 Republicans votes No (60 Yes votes required, McCain is still out due to cancer treatments).