Virginia’s senators split in their vote to end shutdownpublished at 01:26 GMT
In a few moments, senators will begin voting on a new deal that would end this US government shutdown.
Until now, Virginia’s two Democratic senators have been united in their votes against Republican-led efforts to reopen the government. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner have sided with their Democratic Party colleagues in proposing their own bill and for an extension to tax credits that lower healthcare costs.
But that has now changed. Kaine is among seven Democrats and one independent who is expected to vote along with Republicans to temporarily fund the government, against the wishes of Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and the majority of Democrats.
But when fellow Virginian Warner walks up to the clerk tallying the vote, he is expected to vote “Nay”. Virginia is home to hundreds of thousands of federal workers who are currently furloughed or working without pay.
The demands from Democrats have been largely popular within the party and ending the shutdown without an agreement on the tax credit extension has angered some.
Unlike Kaine, Warner is due for re-election during next year’s midterm elections.
