US Senate advances plans to end historic government shutdown in a bipartisan breakthrough

The US Senate on Sunday took the first step to end the historic government shutdown after a group of moderate Democrats agreed to proceed without a guaranteed extension of health care subsidies. This angered many within the party who argue that the Americans want them to continue the fight.

In a test vote conducted on Sunday, the first in a series of required procedural manoeuvres, the Senate voted 60-40 to move toward passing compromise legislation to fund the government. They agreed to hold a later vote on extending Affordable Care Act tax credits that are due to expire on January 1.

However, the final passage of the plan could be several days away if Democrats object and delay the process. One of the controversial aspects of the deal is the fact that the agreement does not guarantee that the Affordable Care Act subsidies will be extended, a provision which the Democrats have been demanding for almost six weeks.

While the Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer of New York, voted against moving ahead with the package along with other party members, eight Democrats broke ranks in order to end the shutdown.

But what Democrats are getting out of this

In exchange for their consent, Democrats have received a commitment from US President Donald Trump’s administration to rehire government workers it fired at the start of the funding lapse, and the promise of a Senate floor vote in December on legislation to extend expiring Obamacare tax credits.

In the end, eight members voted to advance the House-passed stopgap, which is being used as a vehicle for the larger funding deal. The vote will now pave the way for consideration later this week of a legislative package that would fund the Department of Agriculture and the FDA, the Department of Veterans Affairs and military construction projects, and the operations of Congress for all of the current fiscal year — the product of months of bipartisan, bicameral negotiations between top appropriators.

All other agencies would be funded throught January 30, according to the text of the resolution that was released on Sunday. However, the agreement still needs to pass the House before the government can be reopened.

“After 40 long days, I’m hopeful we can bring this shutdown to an end,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said shortly before the vote. The deal to end the shutdown was painstakingly negotiated by Thune and members of the Senate Democratic Caucus, including Sens. Angus King, Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan.

With inputs from agencies.