HERE COMES THE SENATE VOTE TO END THE SHUTDOWN AND RAISE THE DEBT CEILING...
AP
The Senate is expected to vote soon on a bill that would reopen the government and raise the nation's $16.7 trillion borrowing limit, putting an end to a 16-day federal government shutdown and ending the threat of a potential default on U.S. obligations.The bill was the result of a deal brokered by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell earlier Wednesday. It funds the government through Jan. 1 and suspends the nation's debt limit through Feb. 7.
It is expected to pass by a wide margin. From there, it will head to the House for final passage. House Speaker John Boehner will let the bill come to the floor and pass with mostly Democratic votes.
The bill also a measure of income verification for those receiving subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. In short, the Secretary of Human Health Services will submit a report no later than Jan. 1 detailing the verification process. The department's inspector general will submit to Congress no later than July a report on the effectiveness of those procedures.
We'll be covering the votes live. Check back here for updates. For the full text of the bill, see here.