Nevada Senators Support Progress to End Government Shutdown
On Sunday, the Senate took an initial step to end the government shutdown after a bipartisan group of moderate Democrats agreed to move forward. Among them were Nevada Senators Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto.
Senators' Decision Sparks Division
Rosen and Cortez Masto voted to proceed without a guaranteed extension of health care subsidies, a move that upset many Democrats who preferred to continue pressuring for these protections. The Senate approved the motion 60-40 in a test vote that initiates a series of procedural steps to fund the government and schedule a future vote on extending Affordable Care Act tax credits set to expire in January.
“Nevadans had not sent me to Washington to cave to Republicans,” said Senator Rosen, highlighting the tension within the party.
Political Implications and Next Steps
The eventual passing of the full funding bill could take several days if Democratic opposition slows progress. Importantly, the agreement does not ensure an extension of the ACA subsidies, which Democrats have advocated for nearly six weeks. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer voted against moving forward, along with most of his Democratic colleagues.
Though Cortez Masto often supported Republican-backed legislation to end the shutdown, the two Nevada senators had shown differing views earlier. However, the toll of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history influenced their current stance.
“The costs of the longest shutdown in American history became too much to bear,” reflecting the urgency felt by lawmakers.
Author’s summary: Nevada’s senators crossed party lines to advance ending the government shutdown, prioritizing resolution despite party divisions over health care subsidies.