The deadlock in Washington continued Wednesday, after the government hurtled to shut down at midnight, as senators once again rejected competing stopgap funding bills as they returned to work on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers failed to pass a GOP-drafted short-term extension in a 55-45 vote, with three Democratic senators voting “yes”, and breaking ranks with their party to join Republicans. This version would keep the government funded until 21 November. Only one Republican, senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, voted “no”.