With the longest government shutdown in U.S. history entering its fourth week, members of the U.S. Senate, including Georgia’s Johnny Isakson, have reintroduced legislation that would prohibit them in the future. 
On Friday Isakson announced he has co-sponsored the End Government Shutdowns Act, which would permanently ban shutdowns. The bill, which was introduced on Thursday, is being sponsored by several Republican senators.
Isakson, an East Cobb Republican, has co-sponsored the bill each year since 2012. It has never passed. Isakson said in a statement:
“It is wrong to continue the constant threat of a government shutdown, and Americans should expect their government to function and budget responsibly. Too often, last-minute omnibus bills do little to address out-of-control spending, while shutdowns cut off essential federal government services and force Americans to bear the burden of Congress’ dysfunction. This is the one proposal in Washington that will work to end these irresponsible shutdowns that harm Georgians and Americans.”
The bill would would automatically continue funding for discretionary programs that haven’t had a budget approved by the Oct. 1 deadline for each fiscal year.
If spending bills haven’t been approved for 120 days after the Oct. 1 deadline, budgets for those programs would be reduced by one percent.
Funding would further reduced by one percent every 90 days thereafter until appropriations are approved by Congress.
The current shutdown came about when Congress did not include $5.7 billion demanded by President Donald Trump for the construction of a wall across the entire U.S. border with Mexico.
Both the House and the Senate approved stopgap spending measures before Christmas to keep the government open, but Trump indicated he wouldn’t sign.
This week the president spoke on national television to make his case for border funding.
Georgia’s junior senator, David Perdue, one of Trump’s most vocal supporters, defended the president this week, saying the border funding is about national security.
Cobb Sheriff Neil Warren issued a letter this week supporting border funding.
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Correction: The wall was never intended to be “across the entire U.S. border with Mexico.” Some sections don’t need a wall.