Democrats Block Senate Bill to Pay Some Workers During Shutdown

Senate Democrats blocked a Republican measure aimed at paying military troops and some federal workers during the US government shutdown in the latest sign the spending deadlock shows no sign of ending.

The vote on Thursday to advance the bill failed on a 54 to 45 vote, with 60 votes needed.

Democrats have blocked a temporary spending measure 12 times in the Senate since, arguing that they cannot support it without new healthcare spending attached.

The bill, authored by Senator Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican, would have paid employees who have been required to remain on the job since ...