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Fox has learned that Senate Republicans are hopeful that just enough Senate Democrats may be willing to join with them to help break a filibuster on a test vote to fund the government through sometime in January. This proposal would also fund the Department of Agriculture and Department of Veterans Affairs, plus, Congress until Sept. 30, 2026.
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If Republicans are able to coax enough Democrats to vote yes, the Senate could vote as early as tomorrow to break a filibuster on this combination bill. That would require 60 yeas.
However, what is unclear is the status of Obamacare subsidies. Democrats have balked at the lack of a concrete remedy to spiking health care premiums.
"They're looking for an off-ramp," said one Senate source familiar with the Democrats' thinking.
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Fox is told that air traffic control and flight delays are a major consideration in the thinking of the Democrats.
It is believed that the Senate GOP leadership is reluctant to force a vote related to the combination spending bill on the floor without a guarantee it could break a filibuster.
One Senate source told Fox it would be "bad form at this stage" to endure a failed procedural vote on a plan which Republicans believe is the only way out of the government shutdown cul-de-sac.
OPTIMISM FADES AS SENATE DEMOCRATS DIG IN, HOLD OUT OVER OBAMACARE DEMANDS
Moreover, a break by these Democrats without an agreement on health care would be a blow to progressives and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). It would also mark the first true progress toward re-opening the government.
If enough Democrats are yeas, Fox is told the Senate could take a test vote on Saturday night. By the book, if the Senate breaks the filibuster, it may not be able to take a final vote on the package until sometime Monday or Tuesday. But Fox is told there is a distinct possibility that Democrats could yield back time to expedite the process.
If the Senate were to approve the deal, it's on to the House. But the House's disposition is unclear on this legislation. And the House would not even consider this plan until the middle of next week at the earliest.
However, if the House were to align with the Senate, the government would re-open - at least for a couple of months.
