These 8 senators broke with Democrats on the government shutdown deal. Here's how they explain it

These 8 senators broke with Democrats on the government shutdown deal. Here's how they explain it Updated 20 mins ago Eight senators are facing criticism from Democrats for their deal with Republicans to end the federal government shutdown. The eight senators voted Sunday night to provide crucial votes to allow the Senate to move forward on compromise legislation that would reopen the government. Their decision was labeled a “betrayal” and “pathetic” by some of the most prominent voices in the Democratic Party. The senators surely knew they would face such criticism when they broke ranks with most Democrats. But those senators say they were convinced it was time for the shutdown to end. Republicans praised them Monday, saying they put principle over personal politics.