Schumer backs GOP's plan to bring the pain during future shutdowns: 'I'm going to vote for it'

And Schumer, who has led Democrats through two shutdowns in the last year, plans to support it.

"I'm going to vote for it," Schumer said. "And I think it has a lot of support."

Kennedy's resolution would direct the Secretary of the Senate to withhold lawmakers' pay until a shutdown is resolved. A rank-and-file senator earns $174,000 per year, while a leader of either party can earn over $193,000 per year.

His resolution would only pertain to the Senate, too. However, it wouldn't take effect until after the November midterm elections, and some Republicans fear that Schumer and Democrats will again shut the government down before voters hit the polls.

That could lessen the desire of lawmakers to thrust the government into yet another shutdown in the next few months as Congress is still reeling from the growing frequency of closures, and the messes that they leave behind.

Thune noted that the only reason Republicans turned to that option was because of Democrats' refusal to fund those agencies, but still hoped that Kennedy's resolution could be the silver bullet to put an end to shutdowns in the future.