Sunday’s breakthrough came after a group of centrist Democrats negotiated a deal that would keep the government open until January if Republicans promised to vote on health care subsidies that are set to expire by December.
The package also includes bills that would provide funding to parts of the government, including food aid and the Legislature, through the end of the fiscal year.
About eight Democratic members of Congress voted in favor of moving forward with the policy.
Al Jazeera reported that the Democratic support means the Senate has the 60 votes needed to break the weeks-long deadlock.
“This is a so-called shutdown, a process by which the Senate agrees to continue debate on the bill and begin introducing and passing legislation aimed at ending the shutdown,” the report said.
The important thing about cloture voting is that once it passes with a 60% majority, all subsequent votes are taken by simple majority. So it would seem like smooth sailing for the Senate to pass this bill and a continuing resolution to refund the government and end the shutdown.
The amendment must pass the House and be sent to President Donald Trump for his signature, a process that could take several days.
“It looks like we’re getting very close to the end of the government shutdown,” President Trump told reporters upon arriving at the White House after a weekend in Florida amid news of an end to the situation.
MNA/