US Senate Takes First Step to End Government Shutdown

The US Senate took its first step toward ending the government shutdown late Sunday, after a group of moderate Democrats agreed to move forward without guaranteeing healthcare subsidy extensions. This decision split the Democratic party and angered many who said Americans expect them to keep fighting.

In a preliminary procedural vote, the Senate voted 60-40 to advance bipartisan legislation that would fund the government and schedule a later vote on extending Affordable Care Act tax exemptions set to expire January 1st. But here's the key issue - the deal doesn't guarantee those healthcare subsidies will actually get extended, which Democrats have been demanding for nearly six weeks.

Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York voted against moving forward, along with all but eight of his Democratic colleagues. The breakthrough came when three former governors - Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, plus independent Angus King of Maine - broke the six-week deadlock Sunday by agreeing to vote on three bipartisan annual spending bills and extend funding for the rest of government through late January.

The agreement also reverses the mass federal employee furloughs that Trump's administration implemented when the shutdown began October 1st. Federal workers will get their back pay once this passes.

Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune quickly endorsed the deal and called for immediate voting to start the approval process. The shutdown has been disrupting flights nationwide, threatening food assistance for millions of Americans, and leaving federal employees without paychecks. "It's time to act now," Thune said.

President Donald Trump returned to the White House Sunday evening after attending a football game but didn't say whether he supports the deal. He did tell reporters, "It looks like we're getting close to ending the shutdown."

Final passage could still take several days if Democrats object and delay the process. The real test will come in mid-December when the promised vote on healthcare tax exemptions takes place - with no guarantee those subsidies will survive.