WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate voted 60-40 to extend federal spending through January, in effect ending a 40-day government shutdown. Approval by the U.S. House is expected, as is acceptance by President Trump. Long-term prospects for Obamacare health subsidies remain uncertain, but other Trump-inflicted pain on large numbers Americans apparently will end. These include 42 million people on SNAP nutritional aid, 1.5 million federal employees who were furloughed or who lost paychecks for six weeks, ad millions of travelers grounded in an aviation constriction. Trump and Congress had been at loggerheads over his budget plan. Democrats were motivated in their resistance by Trump cuts in healthcare and ither changes to disrupt a functioning society to the benefit of his wealthy donor class and to the disadvantage of poor and ordinary people. How members of the Minnesota and Wisconsin delegations voted:
To end shutdown
> Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin
Against
> Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin.
> Amy Klobchar, D-Minesota.
> Tina Smith, D-Minnesota.
Who, what and why
Seven Senate Democrats broke ranks to give Trump the necessary 60 votes to end the shutdown: Dick Durbin of Illinois, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Tim Kaine of Virginia, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, and Jacky Rosen of Nevada. They were joined Angus King of Maine, an independent who caucuses with Democrats. Their explanation: Pressure from federal employees who were in personal financial straits because Trump fired hem, furloughed them or suspended their pay to have his way budget priorities.