Washington — The Senate took a key step toward ending the government shutdown on Sunday night by advancing a funding bill that unlocks a broader agreement on long-term spending and the promise of a future vote on extending health care tax credits.

The vote was 60-40 , with eight Democrats providing the votes needed to move forward with the legislation. One Republican voted against it.

The eight Democrats had been engaged in bipartisan talks over ending the stalemate for several weeks, and reached the agreement without the support of the party's leaders in the upper chamber.

The agreement they struck does nothing to address the expiring health care tax credits — which had been their party's key demand — besides the promise of a future vote on the issue. The deal left many Democr

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