‘It’s the opening of an opportunity’ say Senate Democrats who broke ranks to end government shutdown – latest updates

Eight Democratic and Independent senators who advanced bill that would end government shutdown defend decisions amid furor from party and base

The eight Democratic and Independent senators who broke ranks with the party to advance a bill that would end the government shutdown -the longest in US history - have defended their decisions amid furor from their party and base.

What happened tonight is not the closing of a chapter. It's the opening of an opportunity. What the chapter does close is the damaging shutdown that is only getting worse, that is only going to impact more and more people," said Angus King, the Independent lawmaker from Maine who caucuses with Democrats.