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Senate Republicans have uncovered a critical piece of the puzzle in their quest reopen the government and plan to continue voting on Sunday.
Although both sides are still at an impasse over the issue of extending the Obamacare Subsidiesappropriators have come up with a package of spending bills that Republicans hope will jump-start the government funding process and end the 40-day government shutdown.
On Sunday afternoon, the Senate Appropriations Committee released a three-bill spending package known as the “minibus.” Lawmakers are still awaiting the text of an updated continuing resolution (CR), which, if passed, is expected to reopen the government by the end of January.
It includes legislation that would fund military construction and the VA, the Legislature and Agriculture, and the Food and Drug Administration.
THE SENATE IS ON THE MOVE AS THUNE EYS LONG WAY UNTIL THE STOP IS ENDED
Senate Republicans are hopeful that a recently introduced package of spending bills could be the key to reopening the government. Senate Majority Leader John Thune plans to test the bill and Democrats' resolve. (Pete Keyhart/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Senate Republicans view the package as a sweetener that they hope will attract enough attention Senate Democrats to break the logjam and move toward reopening the government. And given that the minivan is a largely bipartisan product, lawmakers believe it could succeed.
Senate Majority Leader John ThuneR.S.D., has made it clear in the past few days that he will not table a bill that does not have the votes to pass, after spending weeks trying to get Senate Democrats to vote against the original continuing resolution (CR) passed by the House.
Former Sen. Joe Manchin, IW.V., criticized Senate Minority Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., in his memoir. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)
“Let’s just say there will be something to vote for,” Thune said.
However, the package does not include an agreement on Senate Democrats' main demand during the government shutdown to extend expiring Obamacare subsidies.
Thune promised the Senate Minority Leader Chuck SchumerD.N.Y. and his faction voted to end the subsidies when the government reopens. And for weeks, Senate Democrats have said it wasn't enough to allay concerns.
Senate Democrats are expected to meet Saturday night ahead of the likely vote to determine the path forward. If Schumer and his faction agree to the deal, they will effectively abandon their deeply entrenched position that caused the government shutdown to stretch for more than a month.
SCHUMER, DEMS PRESENT ALTERNATIVE CONCLUSION PLAN, ASK FOR ONE YEAR EXTENSION OF OBAMACARE SUBSIDIES
President Donald Trump awaits the arrival of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the White House on October 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Lawmakers will now have time to review the bills, with a vote expected later Sunday evening.
But this is just the first step in what could be a long and drawn-out process. First, Thune will bring up for a vote the original House-passed CR, which lawmakers see as a vehicle to which the minivan and the updated CR can be attached.
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There will then be two more votes before the package reaches the Senate. He will then have to return to the House of Representatives before going to the President. Donald Trump desktop
Schumer and his faction could still complicate the process by overcoming procedural hurdles. And despite rumors from some members of the caucus that they are ready to break ranks, some Republicans are not too optimistic that the process will be easy.
“I don't expect anything from Democrats,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma. “At this point their demands are so ridiculous that I don't know what they're going to do and at this point I honestly don't care.”
