(MENAFN- Live Mint) A deal has reportedly been reached between a group of at least eight Senate Democrats, and Senate GOP leaders and the White House to reopen the government in exchange for a future vote on extending enhanced Affordable Care subsidies, US media reported on Sunday.

The development comes ahead of possible voting to end the 40-day US government shutdown.

Here's what we know so far:

1. Senate Republican leader John Thune said a deal is“coming together” as he planned a test vote Sunday on a narrow spending package that would end the 40-day government shutdown.

However, there was no guarantee it would end an impasse now stretching to 40 days.

"We'll see kind of where the votes are," Thune said, adding, "This kind of stuff can drag on indefinitely if you allow it to."

He told reporters earlier that the chamber plans to vote on Sunday the House-passed funding measure that's part of a plan to reopen the government, along with passing a handful of year-long funding measures.

The procedural vote would require support from several Democrats. The measure has fallen short of the 60-vote threshold 14 times.

2. Meanwhile, Trump, who arrived at the White House from the Commander's game, told reporters that "it looks like we're getting close to the shutdown ending." Trump was quoted as saying, "You'll know very soon."

3. As per CNN and CBS news, a deal, led by Sens. Angus King of Maine, and Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, has been reached with Senate Majority Leader John Thune and the White House.

4. What does the deal include? The deal includes a vote on a bill of Democrats' choosing regarding the Affordable Care Act, with an agreement to hold a vote on the issue by the end of the second week of December. Democrats have sought to extend health insurance tax credits under the ACA.

The deal also includes a reversal of all shutdown reduction in force notices, or layoffs, that occurred during the shutdown, the source said, and extends the stopgap funding measure through January, among other things.

5. As Senate Democrats met ahead of a possible vote to end the shutdown, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement Sunday night that House Democrats would not support legislation that doesn't extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits that have been at the heart of the shutdown fight.

6. Senate appropriators released the third and final bill as part of a package of full-year funding bills, which would fund the legislative branch, according to CBS news.

Earlier in the day, appropriators released bills to fund military construction and the Department of Veterans Affairs, along with the FDA and the Department of Agriculture.

The package of bills, known as a "minibus," is part of a GOP plan to end the shutdown.

7. What happens if the vote succeeds? Even if the vote on Sunday succeeds, that doesn't necessarily mean the shutdown will end quickly, Bloomberg reported on Sunday.

It stated that House Democrats would also have to get on board with the plan, and their backing was not assured. Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported that the necessary Democratic support wasn't yet certain as it appeared unlikely the package would extend health care subsidies that expire at the end of the year.

Many Democrats in both chambers have continued to demand a one-year extension of the 'Obamacare' subsidies for low-income Americans in exchange for agreeing to reopen the government.

8. Democrats have now voted 14 times not to reopen the government as they demand the extension of tax credits that make coverage more affordable for health plans offered under the Affordable Care Act.

Republicans have refused to negotiate on the health care subsidies. At the same time, the government is closed, but they have so far been supportive of the emerging proposal from moderate Democrats to end the shutdown in exchange for a later vote.

What does it take to end US government shutdown?

According to AP, Republicans only need five votes from Democrats to reopen the government, so a handful of moderate senators could end the shutdown with only the promise of a later vote on health care.

Around 10 to 12 Democrats have been involved in the talks.

Many of their Democratic colleagues are saying the emerging deal is not enough.

Moreover, the amended package would still have to be passed by the House of Representatives and sent to US President Donald Trump for his signature, a process that could take several days.

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