The Senate is voting on the first steps to end the 40-day government shutdown Sunday after a group of moderate Democrats agreed to proceed without a guaranteed extension of health care subsidies, angering many in their caucus who wanted to continue the fight.
The group of three former governors — New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan and Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine — said they would vote to reopen if the Senate passed three annual spending bills and extend the rest of government funding until late January. Senate Majority Leader John Thune endorsed the deal Sunday night and called an immediate vote to begin the process of approving it.
The deal would also include a future vote on the health care subsidies, which would not have a guaranteed outcome, and a reversal of the mass firings of federal workers that have happened since the shutdown began on Oct. 1. The full text of the deal has not yet been released.
No guarantees. No guarantees for health care subsidies. No guarantees not to continue an assault on transgender peoples’ existence. No guarantees to stop armed thugs from abducting innocent people in the streets.
Starving poor people didn’t work. Making air travel a bit more complex was all it took to make fewer than a dozen thin-skinned politicians (who aren’t facing re-election in 2026 †) cave.
† Names and statuses of all the senators involved in the deal:
In case anyone who lives in these states wants to call and express their opinions, in case there’s any chance of influencing them: Dick Durbin - Illinois - not running for re-election Jeanne Shaheen - New Hampshire - not running for re-election Maggie Hassan - New Hampshire - could face primary in 2028 Catherine Cortez-Masto - Nevada - could face primary in 2028 Jacky Rosen - Nevada - could face primary in 2030 Angus King - Maine - (Independent) - could face Democratic opponent in 2030 John Fetterman - Pennsylvania - could face primary in 2028 Tim Kaine - Virginia - could face primary in 2030