US Senate fails to advance Republican bill, prolonging government shutdown

WASHINGTON

The US Senate on Tuesday failed to advance a Republican bill to end a government shutdown that is now in its 14th day.

By a vote of 49-45, the Senate did not invoke cloture on the motion to move forward on a House-passed measure to fund the government until Nov. 21.

Both parties continue to accuse each other of obstructing progress on reopening the government.

The bill needed 60 votes to move forward but saw opposition from most Democrats and a few Republicans. Two members of the Democratic caucus — Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and independent Senator Angus King of Maine — joined most Republicans in supporting the measure.

Republican Sen. Rand Paul voted against advancing the bill, leaving Republicans needing at least eight Democrats to cross party lines for it to proceed, while Senate Majority Leader John Thune also voted “no to make a motion to reconsider.

Democratic Senator John Fetterman, who had supported the measure in previous votes, did not cast a vote Tuesday evening.

While a government shutdown does not automatically result in a full-blown economic crisis, it creates major disruptions for many aspects of American life, also adding to uncertainty around the state of the world's biggest economy.

Many federal employees have been furloughed, or forced to work without pay, while others will be placed on mandatory leave until a new budget is approved. Each federal agency has its own shutdown plan, determining which government employees are essential.

*Rabia Iclal Turan contributed to this story