Shutdown’s ‘end Is In Sight’, Republican Senate Leader Says

We’ve also just heard from Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune, striking an optimistic note about the outcome of negotiations on a deal to end the shutdown.

He says he’s “glad to be able to say that eight Democrats joined Republicans last night to take the first step to reopen the government”.

Thune says that the proposal includes funding for food assistance programmes like Snap and WIC and other “critical priorities”.

“The end is in sight,” he says, asking senators to not prolong debate over final passage of the deal in the Senate.

“I’m hoping that will be hours and not days,” Thune says of the deal’s ultimate approval in the Senate.

BBC