PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SIGNED A GOVERNMENT FUNDING BILL WEDNESDAY NIGHT, ENDING A RECORD 43-DAY SHUTDOWN THAT CREATED A CASCADE OF TROUBLES FOR MANY AMERICANS.

THROUGHOUT IT, AT LEAST 670,000 FEDERAL EMPLOYEES WERE FURLOUGHED, WHILE ABOUT 730,000 OTHERS WERE WORKING WITHOUT PAY. THAT INCLUDES CAPITOL POLICE OFFICERS, TSA WORKERS AND AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS.

THE PLIGHT OF THE FEDERAL WORKERS WAS AMONG SEVERAL PRESSURE POINTS, ALONG WITH FLIGHT DISRUPTIONS AND CUTS TO FOOD AID, THAT IN THE END RATCHETED UP THE PRESSURE ON LAWMAKERS TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT TO FUND THE GOVERNMENT.

DEMOCRATS HAD WANTED TO EXTEND AN ENHANCED TAX CREDIT EXPIRING AT THE END OF THE YEAR THAT LOWERS THE COST OF HEALTH COVERAGE OBTAINED THROUGH AFFORDABLE CARE ACT MARKETPLACES.

SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader

"And, of course, because of the Republican refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits in the midst of a cost of living crisis that already exists, that they fail to address, healthcare for people all across this country is on the brink of becoming unaffordable."

BUT ULTIMATELY 8 SENATORS BROKE WITH THEIR OWN PARTY AND THEIR DECISIONS LED TO THE REOPENING OF THE GOVERNMENT.

REPUBLICANS SAID DEMOCRATS SOUGHT TO USE THE PAIN GENERATED BY THE SHUTDOWN TO PREVAIL IN A POLICY DISPUTE.

SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House:

"The Democrats openly admitted, they openly admitted, many of them said it in their own words that they use the American people as leverage in this political game. They knew that it would cause that pain to the people, and they did it anyway."

DURING THE SHUTDOWN TRUMP HAD ALSO THREATENED TO NOT PROVIDE BACK PAY TO FEDERAL WORKERS. HOWEVER, THE DEAL STRUCK IN CONGRESS SHOULD REPLACE THOSE LOST WAGES.

BUT IT LEFT OUT ANY CLEAR RESOLUTION ON THE EXPIRING AFFORDABLE CARE ACT TAX CREDITS THAT HAVE MADE PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE LESS COSTLY FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS.