The United States government was heading toward a shutdown on Tuesday, with funding expiring at midnight and Democrats and Republicans digging in on their respective demands. Rules in the 100-member Senate require government funding bills to receive 60 votes -- seven more than the Republicans currently control. "This is purely and simply hostage-taking on behalf of the Democrats," Senate Republican leader John Thune said Monday of Schumer's demands. "I think we're headed to a shutdown because the Democrats won't do the right thing," he said on Monday. That time, 10 Senate Democrats, including Schumer, reluctantly voted for that Republican stopgap measure to avoid a shutdown.