Copyright American Press
Legislation to reopen the government after the longest shutdown in history awaits action in the House after a small group of Senate Democrats ratified a deal with Republicans despite searing criticism from within their party. The 41-day shutdown could last a few more days as members of the House, kept on recess since mid-September, return to Washington to vote on the legislation. President Donald Trump has signaled support for the bill, saying Monday that “we’re going to be opening up our country very quickly.” The final Senate vote, 60-40, broke a grueling stalemate that lasted more than six weeks as Democrats demanded that Republicans negotiate with them to extend health care tax credits that expire Jan. 1. The Republicans never did, and just enough moderate Democrats eventually switched their votes as federal food aid was delayed, airport delays worsened and hundreds of thousands of federal workers continued to go unpaid. Meanwhile, Trump has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to throw out a jury’s finding that he owes $5 million after sexually abusing and later defaming writer E. Jean Carroll.
