US Senate vote marks step towards ending federal shutdown

Senators vote on advancing House-passed stopgap funding bill, suggesting end to historic 40-day shutdown in reach

The US Senate on Sunday took a key vote on a bill that would end the record-setting federal government shutdown without extending the healthcare subsidies that Democrats have demanded.

Senators began voting on Sunday night to advance House-passed stopgap funding legislation that Senate majority leader John Thune said would be amended to combine another short-term spending measure with a package of three full-year appropriations bills.