WASHINGTON ‒ The Senate is set to vote Thursday on a Republican-backed bill to pay some federal workers who are working through the government shutdown as the shutdown rolls into Day 23.

The bill, known as the Shutdown Fairness Act and sponsored by Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, would pay employees such as air traffic controllers, military members, border patrol agents and other so-called "essential" workers forced to work during the shutdown.

The bill creates a tough spot for Senate Democrats, who are expected to block the bill, which needs 60 votes in the Senate to overcome a Democratic filibuster. Democrats have argued the Trump administration shouldn't get to decide which employees are essential and not and which should be paid.

Democrats are expected to push a countermeasure to t

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