The U.S. Senate took the first step late Monday, to end a federal government shutdown that has put hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin residents in the middle of a political fight. The bill funds the federal government through Jan. 30.
Senator Ron Johnson voted for the spending plan to reopen the government that ultimately passed with 60 votes. Senator Tammy Baldwin voted against the plan.
Eight Democratic senators joined Republicans to pass the measure that didn't include an extension of Obamacare subsidies. Until now, Democrats had refused to accept a spending plan without it. One Republican, Kentucky's Rand Paul, opposed the plan.
Senator Baldwin opposed the government reopening bill because it did not include a guarantee to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, which are set to expire. She argued that a temporary fix with no resolution for health care costs was not good enough for her constituents. While she supported efforts to reopen the government, she voted against the specific bill that passed the Senate because she wanted to tie the two issues together.
Senator Johnson voted for opening the government and avoiding shutdowns because they are “inefficient, hurt people, and are an opportunity for Congress to engage in additional spending”. He views shutdowns as highly inefficient and has proposed legislation, the Eliminate Shutdowns Act, to prevent them automatically.
The final vote was 60-40. The bill heads to the U.S. House, which is expected to vote as early as this afternoon.
The federal shutdown is in its 42nd day and has thrown Wisconsin’s FoodShare program into federal court as state leaders and the current administration battle over funding benefits for millions of Wisconsinites.
