Special Report: Deal Reached In Senate Would Reopen Government

The Senate reaches a deal to reopen to the government and raise the debt ceiling. Our special report.

An “agonizing odyssey,” growled Senator John McCain today.  “One of the most shameful chapters,” he’s seen, said McCain.  And tonight, it is ending.  The House and Senate poised at this hour to vote an end to the federal shutdown that paralyzed much of the government since October 1.  Debt ceiling, going up.  Obamacare — the Affordable Care Act — not defunded, not delayed.  Default — not this time.  But a new clock has been set.  We could go there again.  Up next On Point:  we are live this evening in the midst of the great turnaround on Capitol Hill.  We’ll look at the deal and the damage.
-- Tom Ashbrook

Ryan Grim, Washington Bureau Chief for the Huffington Post.  (@RyanGrim)

Lisa Lerer, White House Correspodnent for Bloomberg News. (@LLerer)

Susan Davis, Chief Congressional Correspondent for USA Today. (@DaviSusan)

U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, Republican representing Texas' 26th District. Member of the Tea Party Caucus. (@MichaelCBurgess)

U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey, Democrat representing New York's 17th District. Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee. (@NitaLowey)

New York Times: Senate Paves Way to End Debt Impasse — "Senate Democratic and Republican leaders on Wednesday reached final agreement on a deal to reopen the government and extend its borrowing authority into February, with final passage expected late Wednesday or predawn on Thursday. Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, and Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, announced the completion of the agreement shortly after noon, and the Senate Republicans who had led the push to shut down the government unless President Obama’s health care law was gutted conceded defeat and promised not to delay a final vote."

Politico: Senate moving toward vote on budget deal — "The bill is expected to clear the House but the level of support from Republicans remains an open question. House Republicans have clung to the so-called Hastert Rule, a mantra that the House speaker should not try to pass a bill that doesn’t have the support of the “majority of the majority.” In this case, that would mean 117 Republicans must support the bill to avoid getting crosswise with the rule. Top GOP sources say it’s unlikely they will reach that level of support."
 Washington Post: Reid, McConnell propose bipartisan Senate bill to end shutdown, extend borrowing — "Congressional leaders were hoping to move the deal through both chambers of Congress as soon as this evening. Democratic aides said the Senate was expected to vote on the emerging deal before the House, taking up the plan in the late afternoon or early evening.Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced terms of the deal on the Senate floor, drawing support from the White House but a quick denunciation from Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.).But Cruz, who has helped lead a movement among House conservatives to block a deal that does not include White House concessions on Obama’s landmark health-care law, told reporters he would not seek to delay a vote through parliamentary procedures."