Politics & Government

Back to Work: Government Shutdown is Over

Congress votes to reopen government, raise the debt ceiling.

Tens of thousands of people from Virginia will be summoned back to work Thursday after the U.S. Congress ended 16 days of frustration and failure and passed legislation to reopen the federal government, raise the debt ceiling and leave Obamacare alone.

The Senate passed the legislation Wednesday evening, followed by the House of Representatives, where tea party Republicans had blocked any attempt to reach a deal unless the Affordable Care Act — Obamacare — was defunded.

In the end, Republicans got almost nothing they were asking for, except, perhaps, another round of brinksmanship that could come when the agreement negotiated by the Senate expires.

The legislation lifts the debt limit, funds the government through Jan. 15 and sets up a conference committee to try to reach agreement on broad budget questions.

President Obama has said he would sign the legislation and reopen the government immediately.

The legislation includes no major changes to the Affordable Care Act.

With a high number of residents who are federal employees, veterans and government contractors, Virginia was hit harder than any state by the shutdown, according to a study from Wallet Hub.

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