Deadlock continues in DC as senators fail to agree funding

The deadlock in Washington continued yesterday, with the government shutting down at midnight after senators once again rejected competing stopgap funding bills.

- Chris Stein Washington Ed Pilkington New York

Lawmakers failed to pass a Republican-drafted short-term extension in a 55-45 vote that would keep the government funded until 21 November. Three Democratic senators voted yes and broke ranks with their party to join Republicans. Only one Republican, Rand Paul of Kentucky, voted no.

Earlier, all Republicans in the upper chamber opposed a continuing resolution drafted by congressional Democrats in a 47-53 vote. It would have staved off a government shutdown until the end of October, and extended Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies due to expire at the end of the year.

The Republicans, who control the Senate and the House of Representatives, have repudiated Democrats’ demands, setting off a legislative scramble before funding lapsed at midnight on Tuesday, when the Senate failed to advance both parties’ bills to keep funding going.