If the Senate had approved the House-passed short-term government funding bill on or before the beginning of the shutdown, it would have extended the funding deadline for seven weeks -- until Nov. 21 -- buying congressional appropriators nearly two months to continue their work on full-year funding bills before another funding deadline.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said Republican leadership staff is reviewing “protocol” about the possibility of former Vice President Dick Cheney lying in state in the Capitol Rotunda. “I think we’re checking the protocols on that.

Thune said the Nov. 21 funding date set by a House-passed bill, which has failed in the Senate 13 times, will need to be extended into January.

John Thune erupted in anger on the Senate floor, blasting Democrats as the 30-day shutdown threatens SNAP benefits for millions of Americans.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) on Monday said he is “optimistic” a deal to end the over four-week long shutdown could be reached by the end of this week. Both Democrats and Republicans are looking for an off-ramp as the government’s closure inches toward the longest in U.

The Senate majority leader struck a cautionary note as a bipartisan group explores advancing appropriations bills.

Tom Emmer blames Chuck Schumer for blocking government reopening efforts as shutdown enters day 30. Political stalemate continues over spending and healthcare issues.

Democrats are working to balance their health care demands and find solutions for SNAP, with Democratic Sen. Ben Ray Luján on Wednesday introducing legislation that would direct the USDA to release available contingency funds to ensure benefits under SNAP and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program continue during the shutdown.

During a interview on CNBC's "Squawk Box" earlier this morning, Senate majority leader John Thune (R-SD) continues to blame the government shutdown on Democrats, claiming that they're "scared" of their "radical" base.