General Discussion

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Senate on Friday rejected legislation that would resume paychecks for hundreds of thousands of federal workers during the longest shutdown in U.S. history, as Democrats and Republicans remained at odds over how to reopen the government.

The measure received 53 yes votes to 43 no votes in the Republican-controlled chamber, short of the 60 yes votes it needed to advance. Most Democrats voted against the bill and argued it would give too much discretion to Republican President Donald Trump, who has opted to pay military troops and immigration officers during the shutdown while threatening to withhold pay for other workers.

Three Democratic senators voted for the bill: Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff of Georgia, and Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico.

Labor unions representing federal workers had urged lawmakers to pass the bill, saying the shutdown that began on October 1 was creating hardship for ordinary Americans.