Senate Democrats defend breaking ranks to end shutdown as Mike Johnson signals speedy House return – US politics live

Decision to advance bill that would reopen government has sparked furor from party and base; House speaker says he will call lawmakers back as soon as Senate holds final vote

• Senate Democrats who defected in shutdown vote: ‘This was the only deal’

The eight Democratic and Independent senators who broke ranks with the party to advance a bill that would end the government shutdown – the longest in US history – have defended their decisions amid furor from their party and base.

“What happened tonight is not the closing of a chapter. It’s the opening of an opportunity. What the chapter does close is the damaging shutdown that is only getting worse, that is only going to impact more and more people,” said Angus King, the Independent lawmaker from Maine who caucuses with Democrats.

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Source: www.theguardian.com

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