US House begins voting on bill that could end longest ever government shutdown

House Democrats vow to vote no but Republican leaders optimistic legislation to reopen government will pass

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The House on Wednesday began voting on legislation that would end the longest government shutdown in US history, as Democrats voiced fury that the Senate-brokered compromise fails to extend expiring healthcare subsidies.

The House returned to Washington to vote after a more than 50-day absence ordered by the Republican speaker, Mike Johnson, to pressure Senate Democrats into reopening the government.The measure's passage would be welcome news for the White House, which is looking to end the shutdown.