Johnson, R-Oshkosh, who is chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, in media interviews this week expressed his support for the wall, calling Democrats hypocritical for opposing it while minimizing the issue of border security.

Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, voiced her opposition to the government shutdown and making Americans pay for the wall, instead endorsing “smart and cost-effective” border security.

The Senate on Thursday unanimously passed a bill that would guarantee that back pay is provided to the more than 800,000 federal workers affected by the shutdown. Both workers who are forced to work without pay and those who are not currently working would be awarded back pay once funding becomes available.

When the House took up the bill Friday, Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Glenbeulah, was one of just seven members of the 435 member chamber to oppose the bill. Grothman said he opposed awarding back pay to those who are not working.

He co-sponsored a bill that has not been taken up in the Democratic-controlled House that would provide immediate pay for federal employees forced to work.

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