Enough Democrats Expected to Vote with Republicans to End Shutdown: Sources

Senate Aims to End Shutdown with Key Vote

The Senate is set to take a crucial vote on Sunday night to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, according to multiple sources speaking to ABC News’ Jonathan Karl. This move aims to break an impasse between Democrats and Republicans over funding and policy issues.

Details of the Bill

The bill in question would extend government funding until January 31, providing financial support for various agencies including the Department of Agriculture for SNAP benefits and the Department of Veterans Affairs. However, a significant point of contention is that it does not include an extension of Obamacare subsidies, which Democrats had been advocating for as part of any agreement to reopen the government.

Democratic Opposition

While a senior Democratic senator told Karl that more than enough Democratic votes exist to pass this bill, he also noted that a majority of Senate Democrats, including most leadership figures, would likely vote against it. The reasoning behind this opposition lies in the fact that Democrats are unlikely to accept the deal without an extension for health care subsidies.

Republican Support

The proposed plan has been met with support from key Republican leaders like Senate Majority Leader John Thune. However, as of now, Sen. Rand Paul remains the sole Republican opposing it, while Democrats Catherine Cortez Masto and John Fetterman, along with Independent Angus King, are in favor.

Future Steps

If this bill successfully passes through the Senate, it will initiate debate on the funding bill in the House. For the process to move forward, Speaker Mike Johnson would need to call his members back into session before sending the bill to President Donald Trump’s desk for approval.

Additionally, Senate Democrats have expressed interest in modifying the bill significantly. They are pushing for an extension of the expiration date from November 21 to January and want to attach three full-year funding bills related to Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Legislative Branch, and Department of Agriculture.

These changes aim to provide comprehensive support while ensuring programs remain operational until the end of the fiscal year.

Unless there is a swift agreement among all senators, it could take up to a week for the Senate to process these modifications. The outcome remains uncertain as both sides continue their negotiations in hopes of avoiding a prolonged shutdown and resolving underlying policy disputes.