Senators push toward deal to end shutdown as final sticking points remain

(CNN) — Senate leaders are moving closer to teeing up votes to end the government shutdown as negotiators met again Thursday morning in an attempt to hammer out final details, according to multiple sources in both parties.

Those details are expected to again be presented to Senate Democrats during a lunch session later in the day – a pivotal meeting that could determine whether Congress can indeed end the longest-ever shutdown anytime soon.

“There are Democrats who are inclined to do the right thing. They’re under an enormous amount of pressure from the left,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters, adding that he would be awaiting results of the Democrats’ lunchtime discussion. “We’ll see if they hold sway today and hopefully we’ll know more about that as the day rolls on.”