Government shutdown updates: Senate vote marks step towards ending federal shutdown

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the chamber will vote Friday on a bill proposed by Republican Sen. Ron Johnson that would pay federal workers and active-duty troops who are currently reporting to work.

Sen. Johnson first asked the chamber on Friday afternoon to unanimously pass his bill, but it wasn’t ultimately able to move forward, with Democratic Sen. Gary Peters objecting several times to its advancement without modifications. Peters claimed the bill "still leaves too much discretion up to President Trump" and allows for the possibility of funds to be misused. He proposed a different bill that would ensure federal employees receive pay without additional administrative allowances.

The back-and-forth between Johnson and Peters over their competing bills to pay federal workers became even more contentious when Thune inserted himself, strongly urging the chamber to back the unanimous passage of Johnson's measure.

-ABC News' Isabella Murray

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the government could reopen "within a few hours" if Republicans accept the Democratic proposal.

Democratic Sen. Gary Peters followed Schumer's Senate floor speech, saying if Republicans accept the offer "we could open the government today."

"Wouldn't that be fabulous? Show that we can come together," Peters said on the floor. He later added, "Compromise is a two-way street."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer took to the Senate floor to outline Democrats' new proposal to end the shutdown.

"I've spoken with my caucus, and Democrats are offering a very simple compromise," Schumer said. "Democrats are ready to clear the way to quickly pass a government funding bill that includes health care affordability. Leader Thune just needs to add a clean, one-year extension of the ACA tax credits to the CR so that we can immediately address rising health care costs."

"Now, the ball is in the Republicans' court. We need Republicans to just say yes," he said.

President Donald Trump on Friday again called for the elimination of the filibuster in the Senate as a way to end the ongoing government shutdown -- despite Senate Majority Leader John Thune's comments against it.

Asked about his talks with Senate Republicans on ending the Senate's rule requiring 60 votes to pass most legislative matters, Trump again pushed for its elimination.

"The way to do it for the Republicans is to terminate the filibuster. They call it the nuclear option," Trump said, adding that Democrats would go this route.

"The Democrats will do this. So if the Democrats are going to do it, I'm saying Republicans should do it before they get a chance. It's very simple," the president said.

Trump said if the Senate approved ending the filibuster, "we would be back to work within 10 minutes after that vote took place and lots of other good things would happen."

"It doesn't make any sense that a Republican would not want to do that," Trump said.

Thune has repeatedly rejected Trump's calls for ending the filibuster. Thune has said there are not the necessary votes among Senate Republicans to change the Senate rules.

-ABC News' Sarah Beth Hensley