A short-term expenditure bill (continuing resolution, or CR) to stop the temporary shutdown of the U.S. federal government was voted down again in the U.S. Senate. As a result, the shutdown, which comes with budget cuts or suspensions for various programs and the possibility of mass furloughs or layoffs of federal employees, will continue into next week.
On the third day of the shutdown, on the 3rd (local time), the Senate held a floor session and put the opposition Democratic Party's CR to avoid a shutdown to a vote, but it was rejected 52-46. The Senate currently has 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats.
The CR set the shutdown-avoidance deadline through Oct. 31 and included extending subsidies for the public health insurance program Obamacare (ACA), which Democrats have demanded of the administration and the ruling party, but all Republican senators voted no.
The Republican CR that followed was also voted down. This CR passed the House on the 19th of last month under Republican leadership and would have extended the shutdown-avoidance deadline through Nov. 21 while maintaining the current expenditure level.
A CR requires at least 60 votes to pass, but the tally was 54 in favor and 44 against. The vote on the 1st was 55 in favor and 45 against. This, too, is a similar result when accounting for members who did not vote.
With the fourth attempt to process a CR since the 19th of last month failing in succession, concerns are rising that the shutdown could drag on. The next revote is expected on the 6th.