Senate votes on funding bills again

The Senate is expected to vote for a seventh time on Thursday to try to end the government shutdown, as the standoff at the Capitol continues with no sign of progress.

Now in its ninth day, the widespread impact of the shutdown on government is beginning to be felt. The IRS, for example, said Wednesday that it was laying off nearly half its workforce due to insufficient funding from Congress.

Yet lawmakers on both sides remain entrenched, showing no signs they are willing to give in to their demands.

The Senate is expected to vote around 11:30 a.m. ET on Republican and Democratic proposals to end the government shutdown.

Republicans, who hold a narrow majority in the Senate, need about eight votes from the Democratic caucus to pass their short-term funding bill in the upper chamber, where 60 votes are needed to pass.

In the final round of voting Wednesday, the Republican Party’s bill was rejected by a vote of 54 to 45, while the Democrats’ version failed by a vote of 47 to 52.

This is developing news. Please check again for updates.