US Lurches Toward Shutdown as Senate Democrats Block GOP Stopgap

Representative Hakeem Jeffries speaks during a press conference at the US Capitol in Washington on Sept. 19.

Photographer: Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg

Congress moved closer to an Oct. 1 government shutdown as Senate Democrats and Republicans on Friday each blocked the other party’s rival plans to provide temporary funding.

Democrats are demanding a boost to health care spending while Republicans refuse to go along and back a simple bill to keep the lights on through Nov. 21.