The longest federal government shutdown in history will end soon after a group of moderate Democrats caved on their party’s health care demands, voting with Republicans on Sunday to advance a funding bill in the Senate.

The Senate is expected to pass the deal as early as Monday. The Republican-controlled House will then return to Washington and pass it later this week, reopening the government.

For weeks, Democrats have been insisting that any vote to reopen the government also be tied to a vote to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits expiring at the end of the year, something they repeatedly called a “health care crisis.”

Millions of people rely on these subsidies to afford health care, and since ACA open enrolment began on November 1, many have already seen the costs of their healthcare skyrocket.

The deal that moderate Democrats cut with Republicans doesn’t extend those healthcare subsidies, but sets up a future vote to extend them – a vote that will almost certainly fail, as Republicans have no interest in doing this.

Proponents of the deal argue it’s still a win for them, as Republicans previously weren’t willing to hold any votes on restoring ACA subsidies.

“This deal guarantees a vote to extend Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, which Republicans weren’t willing to do,” said Senator Tim Kaine, a liberal Democrat who supported the deal primarily because it includes protections for federal workers, many of whom live in his state. “Lawmakers know........

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