The longest-ever government shutdown could be coming to an end soon, a welcome relief for the federal workers who’ve gone without pay to the Californians who’ve faced delays in key food benefits.
In a 60-40 vote that saw some Democrats break with their party, legislation to open up the government has passed the Senate.
So, what’s next? The deal that would fund the government through Jan. 30 needs to pass the U.S. House of Representatives for a vote. If it’s passed in the House, it’ll head to President Donald Trump.
How did California senators vote in the government shutdown Monday?
California Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff voted no on Monday, Nov. 10.
Padilla and Schiff also voted no on the cloture that ultimately was invoked on Sunday, Nov. 9. A cloture allows for a way to end debate on a measure — the “main method for overcoming a filibuster,” according to the Legal Information Institute.
In a statement, Schiff said he wouldn’t support a government funding bill that did not fund health care tax credits. The Democratic party has, since the start of the government shutdown, sought for an extension of healthcare subsidies set to expire later this year.
“Over the past 40 days, millions of Americans have understood the reality of the Republican health care crisis that will cause their insurance premiums to double next year,” Schiff said. “I have heard from countless Californians who are at risk of losing their health insurance… the current Republican funding bill leaves this crisis unaddressed, and I am adamantly opposed to it.”
The deal, according to USA TODAY, includes “a commitment to vote on potentially extending expiring Obamacare subsidies.”
Padilla echoed similar sentiments in a post on X on Sunday, saying the proposal does “nothing to stop the Republican-made health care crisis.”
“It does nothing to stop premiums from doubling for millions of Americans,” Padilla said. “Democrats are fighting to make health care more affordable and hold this corrupt and lawless administration accountable.”
Which Democrats voted to end the shutdown?
In the 60-40 vote on Sunday, Nov. 9 that allowed for the deal to advance, the following senators voted with the majority of Republicans:
The seven Democratic senators to break with their party on Sunday’s vote were Nevada Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen; New Hampshire Sens. Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen; Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin; Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine; and Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman. Maine Sen. Angus King, an independent, also voted to advance the legislation that would end the shutdown. However, the New York Times reported that King, Fetterman and Cortez Masto have “supported a Republican-written stopgap bill to fund the government since the shutdown began.”
They joined the majority of Republicans in passing a deal on Monday, Nov. 10 that would end the shutdown.
Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Is the government shutdown over? See how California senators voted
Reporting by Paris Barraza, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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