US govt shutdown to end soon, as Senate passes deal
After 40 days of deadlock at the US Senate and shutdown of the US government, hope seems to have been rekindled with the Senate passing a deal aimed at ending the longest ever government shutdown.
After a weekend of negotiations in Washington, a minority of Democrats joined with Republicans and voted in favour of an agreement. The vote would be a first step towards passing a compromise to fund the government.
Though several more hurdles need to be surmounted, including a vote from the House of Representatives, before federal employees and services return, the development would be a first serious sign of progress after 40 days of impasse.
The Republican and Democratic lawmakers had been locked in a stalemate, with many government services under suspension since October, and with about 1.4 million federal employees on unpaid leave or working without pay.
The current shutdown is the longest on record in the US, with a wide range of impact on a variety of services, including US air travel and food benefits for 41 million low-income Americans.
The deal spearheaded by the Senate Majority Leader John Thune, includes an agreement for a vote in December on extending healthcare subsidies that are due to expire this year — a key concession to Democrats.
Republicans holding a 53-47 majority in the Senate, needed the measure to clear a 60-vote minimum threshold, and as such, were able to attract eight votes from Democrats.
BBC and Horse’s Mouth News
