WASHINGTON (TNND) — Senate Democrats and Republicans have voted on the first procedural step to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, on day 40.
The vote was 60 to 40 late Sunday night, after weeks of a stalemate stopping the measure from being advanced.
Seven Democrats and one independent joined Republicans to overcome the filibuster.
Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.)Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.)Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.)Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)John Fetterman (D-Pa.)Tim Kaine (D-Va.)Angus King (I-Maine)
Every Senate Republican, apart from Rand Paul, voted to break the filibuster.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer was opposed to the compromise measure, voting no.
The deal agrees to fund the government through January 30 and to set a vote on the Affordable Care Act bill in December.
The deal includes a reversal of President Donald Trump’s firings of federal employees during the shutdown, ensures backpay to federal workers and includes provisions to prevent such actions in the future. It would also ensure food stamps are funded through fiscal year 2026.
Now, the legislation needs to be sent to the House before the shutdown officially ends.
Speaker Mike Johnson told Fox News Digital that it was a “great development,” and that it “vindicated our position in this all along.”
Johnson said that the house would return immediately.
“We’re going to get everybody back on a 36-hour notice, so it’ll be happening early this week,” he said.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement on Sunday night that House Democrats would not support legislation that doesn’t extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits that have been the main reason for the shutdown.
The House was last in session on Sept. 19, when lawmakers first passed the bill to keep the government funded.
Comment with Bubbles
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
Even though Senate Democrats were guaranteed a vote on extending Obamacare subsidies, the House has not guaranteed the same.