Illinois’ senators were divided late Sunday as the Senate voted on the first steps to end the government shutdown after a group of moderate Democrats agreed to proceed without an assured extension of health care subsidies.
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. Sen. Dick Durbin and four other senators joined 52 Republicans in a procedural vote.
Durbin issued a statement, in part, saying, “today’s bill is not the same one we’ve voted down 14 times…”
“…Republicans finally woke up and realized their Groundhog Day needed to end,” he added. “This bill is not perfect, but it takes important steps to reduce their shutdown’s hurt. Not only would it fully fund SNAP for the year ahead, but it would reverse the mass firings the Trump Administration ordered throughout the shutdown…”
The Democrats who opted to proceed did so without a guaranteed extension of health care subsidies, angering many in their caucus who wanted to continue the fight.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth voted against the funding bill, saying, “This is the time to keep fighting to bring costs down and protect the American people.”
“Trump and Republicans refuse to fight for American families, but I refuse to give up on them,” she stated. “I simply cannot, and I will not, vote to do nothing to help protect them from Trump’s vindictive and malicious efforts in exchange for a vague promise from the least trustworthy Republican party in our nation’s history…
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.
Republicans need five Democratic votes to reopen the government. In addition to Shaheen, King and Hassan, Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, home to millions of federal workers, also said he would support the agreement.
Final passage of the legislation could take several days if Democrats object and draw out the process. Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who caucuses with the Democrats, said that giving up the fight was a “horrific mistake.”
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