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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The US Senate on Sunday night advanced a procedural measure aimed at ending a record-setting government shutdown.The stopgap funding bill would allow the government to be funded until January 30.The US government has been shut down since October 1, as Democrats refused to support a Republican-drafted spending bill they say would cut healthcare support for millions of people.The shutdown has kept federal workers at home while disrupting air travel and food aid.With the support of some Democrats, the vote to advance the funding bill passed by a 60-40 margin. Republicans currently hold a majority in the Senate, with 53 of the upper chamber's 100 seats.Seven Democrats and one independent senator voted to advance the package.What does the bill call for?The bill would restore funding for the SNAP food stamp program, which helps 42 million people pay for groceries. Thousands of federal workers fired over the past month would also get their jobs back.On the crucial issue of healthcare, Republicans also agreed to a vote in December on extending the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, which are due to expire at the end of the year.Democrats have insisted that any vote to reopen the US government should also be tied to a vote extending ACA subsidies. Lower-income Americans depend on these subsidies to pay for private health insurance."I have long said that to earn my vote, we need to be on a path toward fixing Republicans' healthcare mess and to protect the federal workforce," Democratic Senator Tim Kaine said in a statement.However, many Senate Democrats opposed the deal. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic minority leader in the Senate, voted against the measure, arguing that the deal offers a vote for extending the healthcare tax credits, rather than extending them directly.What comes next?The vote on Sunday clears the way for the Senate to pass the measure. It will then be sent to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives for approval before landing on President Trump’s desk for a signature.The process could take several days or longer, depending on the degree of opposition.When the Senate reconvenes on Monday, Republicans said they would try to expedite the voting process to pass the bill quickly and end the shutdown by the weekend."It was a good vote tonight," Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters after the Senate adjourned on Sunday. "Hopefully, we'll get an opportunity tomorrow to set up the next votes. Of course, that's going to take some cooperation and consent."Editor’s Choice: Syrian President Arrives in the US for Historic Meeting with TrumpClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
