Washington — As the government shutdown edges closer to becoming the longest in history, a potential breakthrough appears on the horizon. On Tuesday, senators hinted at a possible agreement that could see the government reopening soon. The emerging deal involves pairing government funding with long-term appropriation bills, alongside a crucial vote on extending health insurance tax credits—a key demand from Democrats.

In recent days, a bipartisan group of senators has been actively negotiating as lawmakers seek an exit strategy from the prolonged shutdown standoff. Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed optimism on Tuesday morning, mentioning that the bipartisan group might be nearing a viable solution. He acknowledged the intense pressure felt by all parties involved, describing it as “great.”

On the Republican side, there is a belief that Democrats are strategically delaying any compromise until after Tuesday’s elections, fearing it might dampen voter turnout among their supporters. A recent attempt—marked by a 14th vote—to advance the GOP-backed continuing resolution failed once more, with no Democratic senators breaking ranks.

Following an extensive lunch meeting at the Capitol, Senate Democrats remained reserved about any potential agreements. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York stated, “We had a very good caucus, and we’re exploring all the options,” keeping his cards close to his chest.

Optimism, however, was voiced by Sen. Markwayne Mullin, a Republican from Oklahoma, who expressed confidence that the shutdown might conclude this week. He revealed, “I will tell you there are enough Democrats that I’m friends with who were willing to vote last week, and they were assured that Schumer would let them vote the way they need to this week.”

The bipartisan conversations on Capitol Hill revolve around an effort to move forward on a so-called “minibus,” or a package of full-year appropriations bills, in addition to the continuing resolution. Proponents of the plan say that approving the package would demonstrate Republicans’ willingness to work on the long-term funding process on a bipartisan basis.

The minibus would include three separate bills. One would fund military construction and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The second would include funding for the legislative branch, and the third would fund the FDA and Department of Agriculture. Thune told reporters that the continuing resolution to reopen the government could “ride” on the appropriations package.

Sen. Katie Britt, an Alabama Republican and appropriator, told reporters on Tuesday that she made calls on the issue through the weekend. She said she’s hopeful that a package of appropriations bills can be part of what ends the stalemate.

“The reason we’re in this position is that we have not passed appropriations bills,” Britt said. “So beginning to break the logjam through doing that, I think, would be incredibly effective.”

Still, Republicans need to win over at least five more Democrats to reopen the government with a short-term measure. Republicans have said they are willing to guarantee a vote on extending health care tax credits under the Affordable Care Act in exchange for Democrats’ votes, an offer that has been on the table for weeks. Some GOP senators think enough Democrats may be now willing to “take yes for an answer,” as Thune puts it.

Sen. Mike Rounds, a South Dakota Republican who is involved in the talks, outlined the thinking to reporters Tuesday. He said that the appropriations package might entice Democrats to “vote for something other than just simply a continuing resolution” while providing “a path forward” beyond a vote on the health care tax credits.

Republicans have emphasized a return to regular order in this year’s appropriations process and have worked to pass all 12 full-year funding bills, as opposed to a massive year-end funding bill. Appropriators are still aiming to accomplish that goal and avoid a year-long continuing resolution or an omnibus package.

But the continuing resolution would only fund the government until Nov. 21, giving appropriators little time to finish full-year funding. Thune has acknowledged that the deadline must be pushed back, though the exact timing remains up in the air.

GOP Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, the top appropriator in the upper chamber, advocated on Monday for a December date. Some lawmakers have argued that a December deadline would increase the chances of resolving the funding fight through individual bills while avoiding a full-year stopgap measure.

But House Speaker Mike Johnson ruled out a December continuing resolution on Tuesday morning, saying “too many people have concerns” about a pre-holiday deadline that often results in massive omnibus legislation to fund the government. Thune said later in the day that the date is still being discussed, noting that the expectation is that lawmakers will fund the government through the normal appropriations process. He said nobody wants a year-long continuing resolution, which would extend funding at current levels. 

Generally, senators said the talks about an off-ramp were more productive, though they were slim on the details. Sen. Gary Peters, a Michigan Democrat who’s been involved in the conversations, said it was a “sensitive time” in the talks.

Collins told reporters Monday that “we are finally making progress” in the bipartisan conversations, saying she was “cautiously hopeful” that the shutdown will be resolved by the end of the week. On Tuesday, she said “the talks are more productive because they’re more specific.”  

Thune said he’s hopeful that “we’ll make some progress” this week. But any one senator could opt to slow down the process, potentially pushing the impasse into next week.