The Latest Breaking News from John Thune

Enough Democrats were set to vote for cloture on a new spending package to get over a 60-vote hurdle and set the stage to end the shutdown.

The longest federal government shutdown in US history continues into its 40th day as Democrat and Republican senators clash over health care funding. The shutdown has left critical programmes like food aid unfunded, federal employees unpaid and caused major disruptions to critical sectors, like avia

Senate Republicans reject Democrat offer to extend health care subsidies for a year in order to reopen the government, as a bipartisan impasse over the longest government shutdown in US history continues and nears the 40-day mark.

Democrats could vote to end the shutdown in exchange for a one-year extension of expiring Obamacare tax credits.