Thune: Senate Vote Wednesday to Reopen Govt

The Senate will vote Wednesday on legislation to reopen the federal government, according to Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., who expressed optimism that additional Democrat support could break the funding impasse.

"We picked up three tonight when we voted on this," Thune said in a TV interview, adding that Republicans hope to secure more votes in the next round. "Eventually, we'll get enough to pass this thing in the Senate and keep the government open."

The Senate will vote again on the Democrats bill funding government through Oct. 31 with an extension of expiring Obamacare tax credits followed by the House-passed GOP bill funding government through Nov. 21.

Both bills were defeated Tuesday night: Democrats' 47-53 right down party lines; and Republicans' 55-45, with three Democrats crossing the aisle to vote to keep the government open with the continuing resolution at former President Joe Biden's spending levels.

Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., John Fetterman, D-Pa., and Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, who caucuses with Democrats, all voted for the Republican stopgap spending bill. Senate Republicans would need four more Democrats to join them to avoid a shutdown, with Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., voting against the continuing resolution, but might not stand in the way Wednesday.

Regular Senate order requires 60 votes to pass.

"We need a bipartisan solution to address this impending healthcare crisis, but we should not be swapping the pain of one group of Americans for another," Cortez Masto wrote in a statement.

"I remain focused on protecting healthcare for working families, and I call on my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to work together to tackle this problem."

The Senate Democrats' deal is a nonstarter for Senate Republicans, but it would not end the shutdown now anyway, since the House is not in session.

Thune blamed the ongoing shutdown on Democrat leadership, accusing Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., of catering to progressive lawmakers.

"This was all unnecessary," Thune said. "It was done to satisfy their left political base and Schumer's fear. He's running scared every single day from AOC [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who might primary Schumer in the 2028 election]."

The vote comes as pressure mounts on lawmakers to end the budget stalemate, which has halted key federal operations and left agencies preparing for extended disruptions.

• Leavitt Blasts Shutdown Dems After Vote
• OMB Memo: 'Execute Plans for an Orderly Shutdown'