Live updates: Thune ‘optimistic’ about shutdown deal; Senate to vote 14th time on funding bill

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) on Monday said he is “optimistic” a deal to end the over four-week long shutdown could be reached by the end of this week.  Both Democrats and Republicans are looking for an off-ramp as the government’s closure inches toward the longest in U.S. history. A group of moderate Senate…