As the record–breaking partial government shutdown grinds on past the one month mark, frustrations are boiling over in Lexington. Wednesday, that discontent made its way to Sen. Mitch McConnell’s doorstep.
"No paychecks, no peace!" the crowd gathered along the edge of Harrosburg Road shouted, cheering intermittent car horn interruptions from sympathetic drivers.
Around 50 government workers affected by the shutdown and their supporters battled the elements Wednesday – struggling to hold on to umbrellas as they clutched signs reading “stop the shutdown,” "call the vote," and and “Congress gets paid as we get played” – outside McConnell’s Lexington headquarters.
But Bill Londrigan with the AFL-CIO said the blustery January weather was the least of their worries.
"They're looking for help from charitable organizations. They're doing without. They're taking less medicine. They're eating less food," he said. "How much more can they be asked to do?"
Demonstrator Jeff Wiggins said the group tried to deliver letters containing "their bills and eviction notices and everything else" to McConnell's staff before police arrived on the scene. Organizer Chon Jung described their efforts as "peaceful," but says the group was not allowed in. The demonstartors briefly chanted and banged on windows after trying to hand over the letters, and police ultimately asked them to leave the building.
Lexington police spokesperson Brenna Angel said law enforcement officers were called after reports of visitors "causing a disruption" inside the building, which is private property. When they arrived, the demonstrators agreed to leave. No arrests were threatened.
With patience wearing thin, Kentucky lawmakers face mounting pressure to resolve the stalemate.
Sixth District Rep. Andy Barr is co-sponsoring the No Work Without Pay Act, which he says would mandate the government pay essential workers during shutdowns. But for now, Barr said workers are grappling with the prospect of a second missed paycheck because Congress hasn't come together around a bipartisan solution.
"What I would say to them is their situation is totally wrong. They should not be in this situation," he told WUKY. "The politicians in Washington need to compromise."
So far, that compromise has come in the form of a bill that would meet President Donald Trump’s wall demands while offering temporary protections for young undocumented immigrants. McConnell plans to hold a vote on that bill – and a Democrat-backed clean bill to reopen the government – this week.
Neither is expected to pass.
