The Senate has reached a bipartisan agreement to end the longest government shutdown in history, with the deal set to reopen the government until January 30. Lawmakers hope this temporary solution will provide time to pass a long-term funding plan and avoid another shutdown. However, challenges remain, particularly regarding the potential to include a vote on extending Obamacare subsidies, which could affect the success of the agreement. The bipartisan package that advanced from the Senate late Monday night would, if passed by the House this week, reopen the government until Jan. 30, according to reports. Lawmakers believe that extension would give them enough time to fund the government the old-fashioned way, making another shutdown a moot point. Yet, the success of this plan hinges on whether both chambers can complete work on spending bills, find agreement with the House, and get them on President Donald Trump’s desk before the new deadline.
Despite the rancor and frustration from the Democratic side of the aisle over the collapse of their healthcare demand, they also want to pass bipartisan funding bills, largely in a bid to push back against cuts made by the Trump administration. However, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., predicted that it would be quite difficult to pass a long-term bipartisan budget.