Overview
- Sen. Tim Kaine acknowledged he was focused on Virginia elections and said he was not engaged in the health‑care talks, adding he underestimated how firmly Republicans opposed negotiating during the shutdown.
- Kaine switched to support a short‑term funding deal after earlier no votes, joining seven other Democratic‑aligned senators to back a Republican‑led measure.
- He said his support was driven by protections for federal employees, robust SNAP funding, and a promised Senate vote on extending Affordable Care Act premium tax credits.
- The defections could allow the stopgap to advance by simple majority in the Senate, and if it passes there, the bill would return to the House before reaching President Donald Trump.
- Kaine described the Democratic split as a tactical difference rather than a rebuke of leadership, and he noted the plan sets a new deadline in late January with a December debate expected on health‑care subsidies.