I'll say it plainly: Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) is a national treasure. I mean, I think I'm pretty fluent in the delivery of folksy aphorisms, but Senator Kennedy has me beat six ways from Sunday. More to the point, Senator Kennedy is a man with a well-developed sense of propriety, which has led him to propose that, as long as some members of the Senate (Democrats) are blocking legislation that would get Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees paid, then the Senate shouldn't get paid, either.
Seems only fair, yes? On Sunday, while the matter was being debated, and while Senator Kennedy had the floor, he moved for a motion to cut off every Senator's pay until TSA was getting paid.
🚨 BREAKING: Sen. John Kennedy just moved to pass his resolution BLOCKING all senators' paychecks during a government shutdown
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 22, 2026
YES! No more double standards.
"It may be cynical but it's true: if I were king for a day...I would provide that members of Congress can't be PAID… pic.twitter.com/RVJV3HBrSx
The post continues:
It may be cynical but it's true: if I were king for a day...I would provide that members of Congress can't be PAID during a shutdown, and I would provide that members of Congress can't leave Washington DC during a shutdown!
I can't pass the 2nd part of that. So I'm gonna try to pass the 1st part of that!
Here's where things went south. Next, there was an objection, apparently from Democrat Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) - who then fled the chamber, leaving the proceedings and Senator Kennedy baffled. Watch:
🚨 HOLY SMOKES!! A Democrat just BLOCKED Sen. John Kennedy's resolution that would stop senator paychecks during a government shutdown...
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 22, 2026
...and he RAN OUT OF THE CHAMBER
SEN. SCHATZ: "I object" *Runs away*
KENNEDY, stunned: "He objected and LEFT THE CHAMBER. Is he COMING… pic.twitter.com/xkCiU8aJx8
Again, the post continues:
KENNEDY, stunned: "He objected and LEFT THE CHAMBER. Is he COMING BACK?"
"Wait, I mean, is he ill?!" "What should I do, should I give him more time?"
He wants to BLOCK TSA pay and won't face the American people. Shameful!
It's not clear what happened exactly, as the camera was on Senator Kennedy - but you can hear, faintly, the shout of "Objection," which was recognized - and then Senator Schatz... He fled. He grew feathers. He bailed. He ran. Like brave Sir Robin, he bravely ran away.
I've watched a few House and Senate proceedings, and I have to admit, I've never seen that before.Read More: Sen. Kennedy's Epic Takedown of Keir Starmer for Failure to Step Up on Iran
That's when Senator Kennedy went beast mode, and it was glorious.
🚨 BREAKING: Sen. John Kennedy goes WAR MODE on senators blocking his resolution pausing senator pay during shutdowns
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 22, 2026
"If a member of this body disagrees with what I'm doing, then BY GOD they ought to come DOWN HERE and stand up in front of the United States Senate, and stand up… pic.twitter.com/c8e10LWcae
Senator Kennedy shouted:
If a member of this body disagrees with what I'm doing, they by God they ought to come down here and stand up in front of the United States Senate, and stand up in front of the American people, and stand up in front of God and stand up in front of (the) country, and stand up in front of all these people, these good people who aren't being paid, and say 'here's why.' Maybe we need to change the Senate rule, Mr. President.
Unless we later learn that Senator Schatz did, as Senator Kennedy graciously suggested, suddenly fall ill, then this was a perfectly shameful performance. This is the United States Senate. This august institution is supposed to include members who can marshal arguments and present them coherently. It is unworthy of the Senate to house a coward who yells out an objection and flees, just to halt a resolution - a resolution aimed at upping the incentive to get TSA agents, federal employees, paid again.
There are mutterings that Senator Schatz is being considered to replace Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) as the Democrats' Senate leader. I can think of worse choices - but only just.
Editor’s Note: Republicans are fighting for election integrity by requiring proper identification to vote.
Help us continue to report why Democrats oppose such obvious measures by joining RedState VIP and using promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member