Congress

U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, of Maine's 1st District, voted against the bill because it failed to extend subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. But 2nd District U.S. Rep. Jared Golden has argued since September against his party's strategy of linking the government funding bill to the ACA tax credits.

King joined seven Democrats to give Republicans the 60 votes they needed to advance the bill. But most Democrats voted against the proposal because it does not guarantee Congress will extend the health care subsidies that have been at the center of the shutdown fight.

Meanwhile, Maine Sen. Susan Collins said she is negotiating with a bipartisan group on a potential compromise to end the government shutdown, although any deal would have to be endorsed by Democratic and Republican leaders.

Collins, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, has largely blamed Democrats for the shutdown. Democrats, meanwhile, accuse Republicans of refusing to negotiate on extending health care premium subsidies for millions of Americans.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who chairs the committee, also highlighted senators' decision to fund several programs for low-income households and students. But Democrats on the committee criticized aspects of the budget bills, including the omission of funding for public broadcasting.

The bill by Golden and a Pennsylvania Republican would reverse a March executive order by President Trump that sought to eliminate collective bargaining rights for roughly 1 million federal workers.

The Maine Republican, who is chairwoman of the budget-writing Senate Appropriations Committee, said the panel would hold an aggressive schedule of hearings on the White House's plan to cut more than $160 billion from federal programs.

During her first full hearing as committee chairwoman, Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine also said the Trump administration had "apparently little or no justification" for abruptly cancelling research grants, laying off scientists and threatening further cuts.

The Maine Republican was already the top-ranking Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee. But there had been speculation that Sen. Mitch McConnell could opt to take over as committee chair now that he is stepping down as Senate Republican leader.

Senators King and Collins are among two dozen lawmakers asking the General Accounting Office to review Department of Defense research into traumatic brain injuries and to identify those service members most at risk of blast exposure.