On Sunday, the Senate took a crucial step forward by agreeing on a funding bill, signaling the potential end of a historic 40-day government shutdown.
WASHINGTON — In a pivotal move, the Senate advanced efforts to conclude the government shutdown on Sunday after a faction of moderate Democrats consented to proceed without ensuring an extension of health care subsidies. This decision stirred dissatisfaction among many party members who feel that Americans expect a continued battle on this front.
The Senate held a preliminary vote, passing 60-40, to advance a compromise bill aimed at reopening the government. This legislation proposes a future vote on extending Affordable Care Act tax credits set to expire on January 1. However, final approval could face delays if Democrats choose to raise objections during the process.
This agreement does not provide a guaranteed extension of the Affordable Care Act subsidies, a key demand from Democrats for nearly six weeks. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York joined the majority of his Democratic colleagues in opposing the advancement of this package, with only eight Democrats voting in favor.
The deadlock was broken by three former governors: New Hampshire Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, along with Independent Senator Angus King of Maine. They agreed to move forward with three bipartisan annual spending bills and extend government funding until late January. In return, a mid-December vote will be held on the health care tax credits. The deal also reverses the mass dismissals of federal workers initiated by the Trump administration since the shutdown began on October 1 and ensures retroactive pay for federal employees.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune swiftly backed the agreement, initiating an immediate vote to commence its approval process. This action comes as the shutdown continues to affect flight schedules nationwide, jeopardize food assistance for millions, and leave federal employees unpaid.
“The time to act is now,” Thune said.
Returning to the White House on Sunday evening after attending a football game, President Donald Trump did not say whether he endorsed the deal. But he said, “It looks like we’re getting close to the shutdown ending.”
Five Democrats switch votes
In addition to Shaheen, King and Hassan, Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, home to tens of thousands of federal workers, also voted in favor of moving forward on the agreement. Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat, Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman and Nevada Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen also voted yes.
The moderates had expected a larger number of Democrats to vote with them as around 10-12 Democratic senators had been part of the negotiations. But in the end, only five Democrats switched their votes — the exact number that Republicans needed. King, Cortez Masto and Fetterman had already been voting to open the government since Oct. 1.
The vote was temporarily delayed on Sunday evening as three conservatives who often criticize spending bills, Republican Sens. Mike Lee of Utah, Rick Scott of Florida and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, withheld their votes and huddled with Thune at the back of the chamber. They eventually voted yes after speaking to Trump, Lee said.
Another Republican, Sen John Cornyn of Texas, had to fly back from Texas to deliver the crucial 60th vote.
Schumer votes no
After Democrats met for over two hours to discuss the proposal, Schumer said he could not “in good faith” support it.
Schumer, who received blowback from his party in March when he voted to keep the government open, said that Democrats have now “sounded the alarm” on health care.
“We will not give up the fight,” he said.
Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who caucuses with the Democrats, said that giving up the fight was a “horrific mistake.”
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., agreed, saying that people in last week’s elections voted overwhelmingly Democratic “to urge Democrats to hold firm.”
A bipartisan agreement
Democrats had voted 14 times not to reopen the government as they demanded the extension of tax credits that make coverage more affordable for health plans offered under the Affordable Care Act. Republicans said they would not negotiate on health care, but GOP leaders have been quietly working with the group of moderates as the contours of an agreement began to emerge.
The agreement includes bipartisan bills worked out by the Senate Appropriations Committee to fund parts of government — food aid, veterans programs and the legislative branch, among other things. All other funding would be extended until the end of January, giving lawmakers more than two months to finish additional spending bills.
The deal would reinstate federal workers who had received reduction in force, or layoff, notices and reimburse states that spent their own funds to keep federal programs running during the shutdown. It would also protect against future reductions in force through January and guarantee federal workers would be paid once the shutdown is over.
House Democrats push back
House Democrats swiftly criticized the Senate.
Texas Rep. Greg Casar, the chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said a deal that doesn’t reduce health care costs is a “betrayal” of millions of Americans who are counting on Democrats to fight.
“Accepting nothing but a pinky promise from Republicans isn’t a compromise — it’s capitulation,” Casar said in a post on X. “Millions of families would pay the price.”
Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota posted that “if people believe this is a ‘deal,’ I have a bridge to sell you.”
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries blamed Republicans and said Democrats will continue to fight.
“Donald Trump and the Republican Party own the toxic mess they have created in our country and the American people know it,” Jeffries said.
Health care debate ahead
It’s unclear whether the two parties would be able to find any common ground on the health care subsidies before a promised December vote in the Senate. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has said he will not commit to bring it up in his chamber.
Some Republicans have said they are open to extending the COVID-19-era tax credits as premiums could skyrocket for millions of people, but they also want new limits on who can receive the subsidies and argue that the tax dollars for the plans should be routed through individuals.
Other Republicans, including Trump, have used the debate to renew their yearslong criticism of the law and called for it to be scrapped or overhauled.
“THE WORST HEALTHCARE FOR THE HIGHEST PRICE,” Trump said of the Affordable Care Act in a post Sunday.
Shutdown effects worsen
Meanwhile, the consequences of the shutdown have been compounding. U.S. airlines canceled more than 2,000 flights on Sunday for the first time since the shutdown began, and there were more than 7,000 flight delays, according to FlightAware, a website that tracks air travel disruptions.
Treasury Secretary Sean Duffy said on CNN’s “State of the Union” that air travel ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday will be “reduced to a trickle” if the government doesn’t reopen.
At the same time, food aid was delayed for tens of millions of people as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits were caught up in legal battles related to the shutdown.
And in Washington, home to millions of federal workers who have gone unpaid, the Capital Area Food Bank said it is providing 8 million more meals ahead of the holidays than it had prepared to this budget year — a nearly 20% increase.
Associated Press writers Stephen Groves and Kevin Freking contributed to this report.
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