When asked by reporters if there had been positive talks between the parties in the past 24 hours, Republican John Thune of South Dakota answered, "Yes." U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said on Saturday that talks in the Senate between the Republican and Democratic parties to end the federal government shutdown have taken a positive turn amid efforts to reach agreements to temporarily end the shutdown and pass three long-term funding bills for some agencies. The 40-day shutdown has harmed many federal employees. The U.S. Senate is attempting once again in a rare session on Sunday to reach agreements between the parties to reopen the government.
