US government shutdown to end after 40 days? Possible vote today as John Thune says deal to re-open is ‘nearly ready’

Senate Republican leader John Thune said a deal is “coming together” as he planned a test vote Sunday on a narrow spending package that would end the 40-day government shutdown.

However, there was no guarantee it would end an impasse now stretching to 40 days.

“We’ll see kind of where the votes are,” Thune said, adding, “This kind of stuff can drag on indefinitely if you allow it to.”

He told reporters earlier that the chamber plans to vote on Sunday the House-passed funding measure that’s part of a plan to reopen the government, along with passing a handful of year-long funding measures.

Here’s what we know so far:

1. Senate Democrats are set to gather for a caucus meeting at 5 pm on Sunday, two sources familiar told CBS News. This comes as Thune said he plans for a vote Sunday on advancing a House-passed continuing resolution, with a plan to amend the measure to include a package of full-year appropriations bills as part of a deal to reopen the government.

The procedural vote would require support from a number of Democrats. The measure has fallen short of the 60-vote threshold 14 times.

2. But, as Senate Democrats met ahead of a possible vote to end the shutdown, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement Sunday night that House Democrats would not support legislation that doesn’t extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits that have been at the heart of the shutdown fight.

3. Senate appropriators released the third and final bill as part of a package of full-year funding bills, which would fund the legislative branch, according to CBS news.

Earlier in the day, appropriators released bills to fund military construction and the Department of Veterans Affairs, along with the FDA and the Department of Agriculture.

The package of bills, known as a “minibus,” is part of a GOP plan to end the shutdown.