(NewsNation) — Paychecks for thousands of federal workers are in the hands of the Senate, where lawmakers remain at a stalemate 23 days into the government shutdown.

Thursday's Senate focus will be on a vote to pay certain federal employees working without a guaranteed paycheck, including air traffic controllers, federal law enforcement and military members.

"The least we can do is pay them. We're going to pay them anyway. We've got a law that provides back pay for workers, or people even furloughed," said Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc. "So why not do the common-sense thing?"

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., told NewsNation he and other Democrats will continue to push an alternative bill that would secure pay for all workers.

"Ron Johnson's bill would say President Trump gets to pay federal em

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