A government shutdown that’s now in its second day can be ended by extending healthcare subsidies, according to experts. The partial shutdown began due to a disagreement over these subsidies. Democrats want to include an extension for the subsidies in a funding bill, but they need 60 votes in the Senate to pass it, and Republicans have only 53 seats.
To end the shutdown, Washington must find common ground on this issue. In the past, government shutdowns ended when the party making demands found an “off-ramp” that they could live with. The same principle may apply here. Democrats’ main demand is for an extension of healthcare subsidies, and if a deal can be reached on this issue, it could lead to a reopening of the government.
Source: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/heres-what-washington-must-do-to-end-the-shutdown-it-depends-on-a-crucial-pocketbook-issue-8cae11d9