WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats refused to end the government shutdown Wednesday, blocking a House-passed stopgap spending bill for the second time in fewer than 24 hours — as federal agencies prepare to start laying off as many as 750,000 employees daily.

The Senate voted 55-45 to end debate on the continuing resolution — five votes short of the 60 needed to clear the legislative filibuster — with Democrats Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, as well as independent Angus King of Maine voting “yea.”

All but one Republican, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, also voted for the bill. 7

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and other Democrats had objected to the so-called “clean” continuing resolution because it failed to extend Affordable Care Act s

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