The Hitchhiker's Guide to avoiding a government shutdown tonight
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As the deadline for the budget approaches, Senate Democrats are torn on what they should do

By  

Published March 14, 2025 10:31am EDT

[](https://www.foxnews.com/video/6369999137112)

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Fox News senior congressional correspondent Chad Pergram reports on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's, D-N.Y., announcement about whether he will vote to keep the government open, on 'Special Report.'

Expect the Senate to take a test vote to break a filibuster around 2 p.m. ET today on the Republican stopgap spending bill.  (Fox News Digital)

The calculus changed dramatically last night when Senate Majority Leader , D-N.Y., announced that he would support the Band-Aid bill. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., is also in favor. Sixty votes are needed to break the filibuster.





Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stands on the day of the Senate Democrats' weekly policy lunch on Capitol Hill in Washington on Feb. 25, 2025.  (Reuters/Nathan Howard)

Here’s whom to watch: Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., along with Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va., John Hickenlooper, D-Co., Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., and others.

If Democrats fail to cobble together eight votes, this is a major miscalculation by Schumer. As it is said, a leader without any followers is just a man out for a walk.





Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stands on the day of the Senate Democrats' weekly policy lunch on Capitol Hill in Washington on Feb. 25, 2025.  (Reuters/Nathan Howard)

Here’s what we don’t know:

It’s unclear when the Senate would vote on the actual bill to align with  if the Senate breaks the threshold of 60 yeas on the test vote. That will likely come late this afternoon or this evening. But those Democrats who may be willing to break a filibuster might demand a series of votes on amendments (which won’t pass) in exchange for their votes.

That includes a vote on the Democrats’ 28-day temporary spending bill, additional money for Washington and restrictions 

Here’s what we don’t know:

It’s unclear when the Senate would vote on the actual bill to align with  if the Senate breaks the threshold of 60 yeas on the test vote. That will likely come late this afternoon or this evening. But those Democrats who may be willing to break a filibuster might demand a series of votes on amendments (which won’t pass) in exchange for their votes.

That includes a vote on the Democrats’ 28-day temporary spending bill, additional money for Washington and restrictions 

Don’t underestimate how livid the left is at Schumer. Progressives who oppose the temporary spending bill could demand some time on the floor to speak against the plan.

But there is also an appetite to escape Washington since the Senate has been in session for 10 consecutive weeks. So, if they break the filibuster, that could accelerate things, too.

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