WASHINGTON – The government shutdown reached the 30-day mark on Thursday, as senators left town for the weekend with no clear path to resolving the dispute over health care costs that has kept Congress from funding federal programs.

With the House in recess since Republicans passed a short-term funding bill in mid-September, the focus has been on the Senate, where all but three members of the Democratic caucus have repeatedly voted against that measure, demanding that the GOP majorities in both chambers agree to extend expiring health insurance subsidies. At least eight Democrats would need to vote with Republicans to reach the 60-vote threshold to pass the bill.

In a call with reporters on Thursday, Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the committee responsible for gover

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