Senate vote to stop shutdown 10 votes short

The final Senate vote on a Republican bill aimed at preventing a federal shutdown is in, and it’s 10 votes short.

Friday’s late-night vote means a government closure is under way. There have been no clear public signs that the two parties have significantly narrowed their disputes over immigration and the budget.

The House approved the measure Thursday over Democratic opposition. It would have kept agencies afloat through Feb. 16, but Democrats wanted a package lasting just days in hopes of intensifying pressure on the GOP to compromise.

Republicans control the Senate 51-49. The GOP needed 60 votes to prevail, but the tally was 50-49.

Five Democrats voted in favor of the measure. Five Republicans voted against it.

What that could mean for Colorado: 11,000 Colorado civilians potentially impacted by government shutdown

Gov. John Hickenlooper released the following statement on the federal government shutdown Friday night:

“This is more unnecessary political drama. It used to be unimaginable that we would even consider shutting down our federal government. Coloradans know that our State government doesn’t shut down. Our legislature has never put the State in this position. We can’t imagine that ever happening here and intend to keep it that way.

“We can handle the impacts of the latest shenanigans, but they waste time and resources that we never get back. This is basically another federal tax that we have to pay.”