Senate nears potential shutdown deal but there’s no guarantee of success

By MARY CLARE JALONICK and LISA MASCARO

WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of moderate Democrats has a tentative deal to reopen the government if Republicans promise to hold a vote on expiring health care subsidies by December, a potential breakthrough as lawmakers seek to end the shutdown .

The group of three former governors — New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan and Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine — has a deal to pass three annual spending bills and extend the rest of government funding until late January, according to three people familiar with the agreement who requested anonymity until the deal is made public.

The deal was far from final. It was unclear whether Republicans had signed off or if there would be enough Democrats to support it absent their