The Senate is voting on first steps to end the shutdown Sunday after a group of moderate Democrats agreed to proceed without health care subsidy guarantees.

S.D., wanted to keep lawmakers in town until the shutdown ended. While there was activity, no path forward has materialized yet.

At least eight Democrats — enough for the measure to clear the Republican-controlled Senate — are expected to support the measure, according to a person familiar with negotiations over the bill.

By Richard Cowan and Susan Heavey WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Bipartisan talks in the U.S. Senate to end the federal shutdown have taken a positive turn, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said on Saturday,

Senators are staying in Washington through the weekend as talks continue on a short-term spending deal to end the government shutdown, with both parties trading proposals on health care subsidies and federal worker pay.

Bipartisan Senate talks aimed at ending the government shutdown continued as both parties grappled with the fallout from Tuesday's elections, and the FAA said it would cut airline capacity in dozens of markets.

As the government shutdown hits Day 38, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Democrats offered a plan that would reopen the government. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.)