A North Texas union, the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 1040, is among the nationwide organizations calling on Congress to immediately approve a clean continuing resolution — a bill to fund the government and reopen it . The Republican House majority passed a clean CR in September, without much new spending or programs.

However, in the Senate, 60 votes are needed to pass this bill. Republicans in the upper chamber need eight Democrats to join them to reopen the Government and so far, there haven't been enough Democrats to vote for the CR.

Democrats have called for Republicans to agree to extend tax subsidies on the Affordable Care Act to keep health insurance premiums from rising. Republicans have said they would only negotiate after Democrats vote to reopen the

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