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UPDATE: The Senate approved a funding measure to fund and reopen the federal government last night. The measure now moves to the House, where a vote is expected as early as 4 PM on Wednesday.
Over the weekend, eight more moderate Democratic Senators defected, allowing the Senate to move forward on funding the government. It would seem that, after more than 40 days, an end to the shutdown is in sight.
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From Fox News:
Signs that the shutdown, which entered its 40th day, could be ending became more and more clear as the day went on, particularly with the unveiling of a bipartisan package of spending bills that lawmakers hope to attach to a modified bill to reopen the government.
Eight Senate Democrats crossed the aisle to mark the first step in the GOP’s quest to end the shutdown. Many of the lawmakers that splintered from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., were among those engaged in bipartisan talks over the last several weeks.
Among the defectors were Sens. Angus King, I-Maine, John Fetterman, D-Pa., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Tim Kaine, D-Va., and the number two Democrat in the Senate, Dick Durbin, D-Ill.
While Senate Dems have earned some concessions, such as the reversals of firings of some federal workers, Republicans have not budged on the Obamacare tax credits, which quickly became the central issue of the shutdown. Democrats did, however, secure a guarantee of a vote on the tax credits after the government opens.
Senators are hard at work crafting the legislation to end the shutdown, but there are still several procedural roadblocks and votes left that more hardline Democrats could use to hold up the process. As of the time of writing, the Senate has not yet passed any legislation.
The House, meanwhile, is gearing up to receive and vote on whatever the Senate gives them. Speaker Mike Johnson urged Republicans to return to Washington on Monday, telling Fox that the House could vote to reopen the government as early as Wednesday.
This shutdown has been long and difficult, but an end is finally in sight. Let’s pray for our lawmakers as they work to end the chaos in Washington!
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(Excerpt from Fox News. Photo Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
