(Photo by Bryan Dozier/NurPhoto via AP)
The Senate has taken its clearest step yet toward ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history after eight Democratic caucus members crossed the aisle late Sunday to advance a bill to reopen the federal government.
The Senate voted 60-40 to move forward on a House continuing resolution, which now carries a bipartisan compromise to fund veterans’ affairs, military construction, Congress, and agriculture through the end of the fiscal year, with the rest of the government funded through January 30.
In return, Democrats have been promised a December floor vote on extending the expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits, though it is not guaranteed to pass.
The eight Democratic caucus members who voted to advance the package were:
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA)
Sen. Angus King (I-ME)
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH)
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA)
The move left party colleagues furious, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who voted against the CR. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, threatened: “We will not support spending legislation advanced by Senate Republicans that fails to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits.”
The move follows days of deadlocked negotiations between Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Democratic negotiators that included Shaheen, King and Hassan.
“After 40 long days, I’m hopeful we can bring this shutdown to an end,” Thune said.
The deal reverses firings carried out by the Trump administration during the funding lapse, guarantees back pay, and freezes “reductions in force” until the end of January.
Kaine, who represents more than 140,000 federal workers in his state, argued that was decisive.
“This legislation will protect federal workers from baseless firings, reinstate those who have been wrongfully terminated during the shutdown, and ensure federal workers receive back pay,” he said.
If the Senate clears final procedural hurdles, the House could return this week.
The post Here Are the 8 Senators Who Broke Ranks to Join GOP on Shutdown-Ending Deal first appeared on Mediaite.
