Hopes fade for quick end to shutdown

Democrats are running the high-risk strategy of effectively voting for a govt shutdown

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US President Donald Trump speaks in White House

(AP/PTI)

Hopes fora quick end to the government shutdown were fading Friday as Republicans and Democrats dug in for a prolonged fight and President Donald Trump readied plans to unleash layoffs and cuts across the federal government.

Senators were headed back to the Capitol for another vote on government funding on the third day of the shutdown, but there has been no sign of any real progress toward ending their standoff.

Democrats are demanding that Congress extend health care benefits, while Republicans are trying to wear them down with day after day of voting ona House-passed bill that would reopen the government temporarily, mostly at current spending levels.