Senate Democrats defeated a House-passed bill to fund the government Friday, propelling the nation toward a government shutdown.

The minority Democrats largely banded together to defeat the bill, 44 to 48, with only Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) joining Republicans. Sixty votes were needed.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who routinely votes against government funding bills, voted with Democrats, as did Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a moderate who often sides with Democrats.

Eight Republicans did not vote – although their votes in favor of the bill would have left the bill shy of the necessary 60.

Just hours earlier on Friday, the House of Representatives passed a bill to prevent a government shutdown for another seven weeks with only one Democrat voting supporting the critical bill.

That partisans

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