Coming off a YUUUUGE victory from Tuesday’s elections, eight members of the Democratic Party in the US Senate voted with Republicans for a deal aimed at reopening the government and ending the 40-day shutdown. After 40 days of fighting for extending subsidies for people to purchase health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, which will lapse at the end of the year, Democratic senators received a ‘promise’ for a vote on this issue at a later date. That’s it!
Even if it has enough support to clear those hurdles, the process is expected to take days.
The agreement contains a “minibus” — three full-year appropriations bills that will fund certain departments like Agriculture through the end of the fiscal year next fall — and a continuing resolution to fund the rest of the government at existing spending levels through Jan. 30.
It would also fully fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, once known as food stamps, through next September, a major flashpoint in the shutdown.
The eight Democrats who voted to advance the measure were Shaheen, Hassan, King as well as Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., John Fetterman, D-Pa., Tim Kaine, D-Va., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev.
Sternly Worded Justifications for their Capitulation:
King: So I believe that we are closer tonight to a vote on the ACA tax credits than we were this morning. This agreement tonight is a win for the American people.
— Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social) November 9, 2025 at 6:28 PM
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Reporter: What do you say to your colleagues who say this isn't a fight, this is a capitulation? Shaheen: We have a guaranteed vote by a guaranteed date… Reporter: There is no guarantee that this will become law. Shaheen: There was never a guarantee that it would be become law.
— Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social) November 9, 2025 at 6:40 PM
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Shaheen: So let me be clear. No one in the senate chamber wants to extend the ACA tax credits more than I do.
— Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social) November 9, 2025 at 6:22 PM
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Hassan: With the government reopening shortly, Republicans now finally have to come to the table. Or make no mistake, Americans will remember who stood in the way.
— Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social) November 9, 2025 at 6:30 PM
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Hassan: My vote was to do two things: 1) Make sure the government is functioning… 2) continue the fight to a realistic platform to get the premium tax cuts done. If that is not successful, then shame on the Republican Party and shame on Donald Trump.
— Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social) November 9, 2025 at 6:46 PM
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The Hangover:
Ah well, just roll over and show your belly then, I guess.
— Julian Sanchez (@normative.bsky.social) November 10, 2025 at 6:51 AM
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Kaine on why he thinks just getting a vote on healthcare is a win: "We're the minority party, but everybody will get to see who is standing for them when it comes to lowering their healthcare costs"
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) November 10, 2025 at 6:45 AM
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Orwellian Speak:
Shaheen: "I think we can get a bipartisan bill out of the Senate that will address this [healthcare] issue. And if not, we know that the voters are going to know who's on their side and who's going to hold them accountable."
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) November 10, 2025 at 6:15 AM
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