The US Senate held a rare Saturday session aimed at ending the ongoing government shutdown. The chamber adjourned early in the evening and is expected to reconvene on Sunday with the goal of voting on a funding measure.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters that the chamber will continue meeting until the government reopens, despite the lack of an imminent breakthrough. Senators are working on finalizing a package of three long-term appropriations bills, but both sides remain far apart.
On Friday, Democrats offered to reopen the government in exchange for a one-year extension of health care tax credits, which Republicans rejected. GOP senators have criticized the Affordable Care Act and have urged Democrats to vote to reopen the government so they can negotiate broader changes to the healthcare industry.
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Republicans for quickly shooting down the offer, calling it “a terrible mistake.” Thune reiterated his opposition to the proposal, saying that there is still only one path out – a clean funding extension.
The Senate has held 129 Saturday sessions since 1968, and today’s session was the fourth this year. The chamber convened at noon with an invocation from the chaplain and the pledge of allegiance, but no votes were scheduled for the day.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/government-shutdown-latest-senate-weekend-session