The Senate is preparing for yet another vote on government funding as the ongoing shutdown persists. This series of votes has yet to achieve the required 60 votes for passage.
Background on Government Funding Votes
The first attempt occurred on September 19, after the House of Representatives passed a Republican-backed bill. This proposal aimed to extend funding until November 21. However, the measure garnered minimal support, with only one Democrat voting in favor.
On the other side, the Democratic proposal sought to fund the government until October 31. This plan also included an extension of health insurance tax credits, a priority for Democrats. Unfortunately, it did not receive any backing from Republicans.
Recent Voting Developments
In the past week, the Senate has conducted three votes on the competing measures. On the Tuesday leading up to the funding deadline, the Republican plan saw increased support. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democrat from Nevada, and Angus King, an independent from Maine, expressed their backing. Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, also voted in favor after previously supporting the measure.
- Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky remained the only Republican opposing the plan throughout the voting.
- The final count stood at 55 votes for the Republican proposal and 45 against.
After a break for Yom Kippur, the Senate revisited the proposals on Friday. However, the Republican measure failed to gain additional Democratic support.
Looking Ahead
Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated that, if the measures failed on Friday, the Senate would reconvene the following Monday. He mentioned giving senators the weekend to reconsider their positions. As it stands, Democrats have remained steadfast in their demands for negotiations regarding health care issues.
It remains uncertain whether the brief pause in voting will effectively influence the outcome of Monday’s session regarding government funding.
