Last evening, by a vote of 60-40, the Senate finally agreed proceed on a legislative package that would, among other things, reopen the government. This represents the first step of many that would fund and reopen the government.
After more a dozen failed procedural votes, the Senate was finally able to reach the 60-vote threshold on a proposal to move forward: In addition to legislation to reopen the government that includes backpay for federal workers, the agreement also includes a December vote to extend Obamacare subsidies.
Among other items, the legislative package that the Senate agreed to debate on includes:
- Three of the twelve full-year appropriations bills: Agriculture; Legislative Branch; and Veterans Affairs;
- a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the other parts of the government through January 30;
- backpay for furloughed federal workers; and,
- a prohibition on additional reductions in the federal workforce through the length of the CR.
Eight Democrats joined the vast majority of the Republicans in moving the proposal forward while one Republican opposed the move.
This agreement does not mean that the Senate has officially voted to approved the measure. It just means that the Senate can now proceed to consider the package.
In addition, if the Senate does ultimately approve it, the House– which has been in recess since September 19– must reconvene to pass it as well. Finally, assuming both chambers agree, the final measure must be signed by the President.
At the end of the day, the Senate agreement to move forward represents the first step in a longer process to reopen the government.