DENVER (KDVR) — U.S. lawmakers Sunday took one step closer to ending the historic federal government shutdown after a group of Democrats broke with the rest of their party in a test vote in favor of a spending package.
There are still a series of moves needed to end the shutdown, but after Democrats had voted against the spending bill 14 previous times, Sunday’s vote was the first move toward a deal that would reopen the government.
Eight members of the Democratic caucus voted in favor of the bill, which the House had originally passed back in September before the shutdown began. The vote now sets up the House to return to consider the bill again, which, if passed there, will then move to President Trump’s desk.
Colorado’s congressional delegation has been vocal on the shutdown and funding bill. Here’s a look at how they have voted so far, and how Colorado’s House representatives say they plan to vote later this week.
Hickenlooper, Bennet vote ‘no’ Sunday night
Colorado’s two democratic senators were not among the group of eight who joined Republicans in Sunday’s narrow 60-40 vote needed to pass the House resolution to fund the government.
Both senators cited the lack of health care subsidies funding in the bill, which has been the focal point of the Democrats’ dissent in the Republican-backed measure.
“Instead of bringing forward a plan to extend the health care premium tax credits, President Trump and Washington Republicans have chosen once again to make it harder for everyday Americans to buy health care for themselves and their families,” Bennet said. “As a result, I will vote no on their funding proposal.”
The Colorado Division of Insurance warned in late October that around 225,0000 Coloradans will see health insurance costs double as a result of the loss of federal tax credits that are set to expire at the end of the year with no guaranteed plan to extend them.
The state has said the loss of these credits could lead to about 75,000 Coloradans losing access to healthcare coverage.
“Coloradans want lower costs and affordable health care,” Hickenlooper said after Sunday’s vote. “Today’s bills failed to address skyrocketing health care premiums caused by the Republican ‘Big Bad Bill.’ So I voted NO.”
Colorado’s House delegation evenly split
Colorado’s representatives in the U.S. House have so far been evenly split along party lines in support and against the funding bill.
The four Republicans, Reps. Lauren Boebert, Jeff Crank, Gabe Evans and Jeff Hurd, voted in favor of the Republican-led bill in September and have been vocal about what they call the Democrat shutdown and reopening the government.
Hurd has been a sponsor of a bill to temporarily fund the health care tax credits, but he said in an editorial published Oct. 11 in the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel that Democrats should have conversations about them in an open government. The agreement to reopen the government, passed in the Senate on Sunday, comes with negotiations and a mid-December vote on extending the credits.
“These are important discussions to be having, and I want to have them,” he said. “But the discussions belong in a government that’s open and functioning. I respectfully urge my Democratic colleagues to adopt the straightforward bill we passed in the House and reopen the government.”
Meanwhile, the four Democrats, Jason Crow, Diana DeGette, Joe Neguse and Brittany Pettersen, voted against the bill in September, and all four voiced opposition Sunday night again after the Senate vote.
Here’s what they said and how they expect to vote:
Rep. Jason Crow
“I’m a hard no on this ‘deal.’ I don’t take promises from Trump or Republicans in Congress anymore. I’m no fool. My constituents deserve enforceable guarantees for their health care and our democracy. Come back to me when you’re serious.”
Rep. Diana DeGette
“I say hell no to any deal that will cause millions of Americans to lose their health insurance.”
Rep. Joe Neguse
“I’ll be voting NO.”
Rep. Brittany Pettersen
“This is not a deal. This does nothing to address the skyrocketing costs of health care facing American families and I would never trust a ‘promise’ to vote on the ACA later from Republicans. While I join all of you in deep disappointment, this fight is far from over.”
The Senate reconvenes Monday to continue working on the bill, which Democrats could stall for days before it heads back to the House for final approval.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.

