Senate Advances Bipartisan Bills to End Shutdown

Republican senators in Washington are advancing a bipartisan package of spending bills aimed at ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, now in its sixth week, as Democrats weigh demands for extending expiring health care subsidies against mounting pressures from the impasse.

The proposal, led by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., includes three individual spending measures negotiated across party lines to fund food assistance, veterans programs and the legislative branch, while extending funding for other government operations until December or January. It would replace a House-passed continuing resolution that Democrats have blocked 14 times and push the overall funding deadline to November 21. A test vote on the unpublished package could occur as early as Friday, with Thune planning to keep the Senate in session through the weekend if needed.

Democrats have consistently rejected efforts to reopen the government without commitments to extend Affordable Care Act premium subsidies set to expire in January. Many, including Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., argued Thursday that Republican leaders must negotiate directly with them and President Donald Trump....