The U.S. Senate succeeded in passing a procedural vote to move toward a bill that would unlock funds to reopen the federal government after a record 40-day shutdown due to a lack of agreement.
Shortly before 23:00 local time (04:00 GMT), the Senate secured the 60 votes needed to move towards a compromise to pay civil servants and federal agencies, after seven Democratic senators and independent Angus King (who usually votes with the Democrats) decided to break with their party discipline to allow the budget to be extended until January 30.
Green light to reopen the government
Democrats who decided to vote in favor of unblocking the process on the Senate floor explained that it was clear that the Republicans were not going to budge and that “there was only one deal on the table and this was the best option to reopen the government.”
The agreement reached tonight, which must still go through other votes in the Senate and finally through the Lower House, will allow for the re-payment of the more than 650,000 civil servants who have not received a paycheck and retroactive pay for more than a month.
As well as funding the departments of Agriculture (in charge of food stamps for the poorest), Veterans Affairs and other agencies until January 30.
As part of the negotiations, the Republican side assured Democrats that they would vote in December to extend subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare.
These subsidies end this year and this had become a major obstacle to extending the budget.
U.S. Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer opposed the deal.
Schumer asserted that while the federal government was shut down President Donald Trump took affected Americans “hostage” by suspending the food assistance program for families, veterans, seniors and children.”
“The health care crisis is so dire and urgent for families that I cannot support this (budget) continuing resolution,” Schumer said.
Schumer’s opposition was also supported by progressive Senator Elizabeth Warren, who said the deal was a “big mistake”.
“I understand that some of my fellow Democrats are not happy with this deal, but waiting another week or another month was not going to mean a better outcome,” said New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.
Shaheen has led negotiations with the Republican caucus to overcome the impasse they were at.
Senate Democrats who voted to pass the 60 out of 100 vote threshold said that one of their main goals is to ensure that Obamacare coverage credits are maintained for the millions of Americans who depend on them.
The agreement must obtain the endorsement of the House of Representatives, where there is division in both parties.
House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he will vote no.
While Pete Aguilar, chairman of the Democratic Caucus, joined in opposing the bill because it “does not fix the health care crisis or make Americans’ lives more affordable.”
This federal government shutdown has lasted a record 40 days and has resulted in the suspension of pay for several hundred thousand federal civil servants.
As well as the closure of basic services, the non-payment of food stamps for the poorest or long delays in airports and air traffic due to the shortage of controllers or airport security personnel.
In the absence of salaries, many civil servants have been forced to resort to food donations or emergency loans, while a large number continued to work without receiving their paychecks.
In addition, analysts were beginning to fear that the long hiatus in the federal government’s ability to operate at full capacity was beginning to have an irreversible impact on the growth of the U.S. economy.
Filed as: Green light to reopen government
With information from EFE
