The Senate today (Thursday) will move forward on a bill aimed at avoiding a government shutdown. Majority leader Democrat Chuck Schumer announced Thursday the rare step of voting on a funding bill first in the Senate, the start of a process he says will take some time. -Quote-“ “Both sides are going to spend the next few days trying to figure out the best path remaining for keeping the government open,”With the government set to run out of funding at the end of the month, both parties are embarking on a process expected to mix funding with polititical priorities.. Democrats have rejected Republican efforts to tie the bill to a requirement that thos wishing to vote show evidence their U.S. citizens.