The United States Senate is set to hold a vote to advance a Republican stopgap funding package that could pave the way to end the longest government shutdown in the country’s history.The breakthrough on Sunday came after a group of centrist Democrats negotiated a deal to reopen the government if Republicans promise to hold a vote on expiring healthcare subsidies by December.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listSenator Angus King, who led the talks, told reporters that the Democrats backing the legislation felt the shutdown has gone on long enough, according to The Hill newspaper.When asked if he was confident that there would be enough votes to pass the bill, he said: “That’s certainly what it looks like.”The package would include a stopgap funding bill that would reopen the government through January and fund other elements – including food aid and the legislative branch – for the next year.The amended package would still have to be passed by the House of Representatives and sent to President Donald Trump for his signature, a process that could take several days.As news of the breakthrough emerged, Trump told reporters when he arrived at the White House after a weekend in Florida: “It looks like we’re getting very close to the shutdown ending.”Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, said he would vote against the funding measure but also suggested there could be enough Democratic support to pass it. “I am unwilling to accept a vague promise of a vote at some indeterminate time, on some undefined measure that extends the heal …
