Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) announced Friday afternoon that the Senate would begin voting immediately on a procedural motion to end debate on a House-passed bill to fund the

Democrats voted to end the filibuster, paving the way for Republicans to pass their funding bill before the shutdown deadline at midnight.

The U.S. Senate on Friday night averted a looming midnight shutdown of federal government by passing a funding bill after approving a key procedural vote with the support of enough Democrats.