Speaker Johnson says House will return to Washington for voting on shutdown deal

"WASHINGTON -- Speaker Mike Johnson said Monday that House lawmakers should start returning to Washington "right now" after a small group of Senate Democrats broke a 40-day stalemate late Sunday evening and voted with Republicans to move forward with legislation that would end the government shutdown. It is unclear when the Senate will hold final votes on the legislation. But Johnson said the "nightmare is finally coming to an end" after the Senate voted 60-40 to consider a compromise bill to fund the government."

"After weeks of negotiations, the moderate Senate Democrats agreed to reopen the government without a guaranteed extension of health care subsidies, angering many in their caucus who have demanded for more than six weeks that Republicans negotiate with them on the Affordable Care Act tax credits that expire Jan. 1. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., promised a mid-December vote on the subsidies, but there was no guarantee of success."

"Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York voted against moving ahead with the package, along with all but eight of his Democratic colleagues. "We will not give up the fight," Schumer said, adding that Democrats have now "sounded the alarm" on health care. An end to the shutdown could still be days away if any senators object and drag out the process. Thune was still working out concerns within his Republican conference about individual provisions in the underlying spending bills."

A Senate vote to consider a compromise spending package passed 60-40, clearing a path to end a 40-day government shutdown. House lawmakers were urged to return to Washington immediately to act swiftly. Moderate Senate Democrats agreed to reopen the government without a guaranteed extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits that expire Jan. 1, prompting anger from many Democrats. Senate leadership promised a mid-December vote on the subsidies but provided no assurance of success. Final passage could still be delayed if senators object, and Republican lawmakers continued negotiating concerns about provisions in the underlying bills.

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