Senate rejects House-backed continuing resolution for ninth time as shutdown stretches into 15th day
The latest vote marked the ninth time that the Senate failed to advance or pass the legislation, prolonging the government shutdown past the two-week mark. The vote failed in a 51-44 split, with five senators not voting.
The Senate on Wednesday afternoon rejected the latest attempt to advance legislation that would reopen the federal government, after only three liberal senators joined forces with Republicans to advance the resolution.
The latest vote marked the ninth time that the Senate failed to advance or pass the legislation, prolonging the government shutdown past the two-week mark. The vote failed in a 51-44 split, with five senators not voting.
The tally also mirrored previous votes with Democratic Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and John Fetterman of Pennsylvania siding with Republicans and Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul voting with Democrats. Independent Maine Sen. Angus King, who normally caucuses with Democrats, also voted to advance the resolution.
Republican Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Roger Marshall of Kansas did not vote, nor did Illinois Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune blamed the shutdown on Democrats, noting that issues such as military pay have done little to move the needle toward ending the shutdown.
“Democrats show no sign that they’re ready for it to end,” Thune said in floor remarks. “Democrats are dug in. And all those Americans living in uncertainty? Well, they’re just going to have to wait until Democrats’ far-left base is satisfied.”
It is not clear when the next vote will take place.
Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.