The Senate took a first step toward ending the government shutdown — the longest government shutdown in history — Sunday, after a group of moderate Democrats agreed to proceed without a guaranteed extension of health care subsidies.

In a test vote, the first in a series of required procedural maneuvers, the Senate voted 60-40 to move toward passing compromise legislation to fund the government and hold a later vote on extending Affordable Care Act tax credits that expire Jan. 1.

Final passage could be several days away.

The agreement does not guarantee the health care subsidies will be extended, as Democrats have demanded for almost six weeks. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York voted against moving ahead with the package, along with all but eight of his Democratic coll

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