WASHINGTON — The government shutdown that began Wednesday reflected a deep partisan divide between Republicans and Democrats over spending and policy priorities. “The American people are suffering, and if they are suffering in my state, they are suffering in Republican states, right?” Cortez Masto said in an interview. (Republicans picked up only two members of the minority Tuesday night; Fetterman had previously voted for the Republicans’ spending plan and made it clear he would not vote against a proposal to avert a shutdown.) “Americans throughout the country are opening their mailboxes and finding letters in there telling them that their health insurance is about to go way, way, way up,” he said Wednesday morning. “When Democrats say we want to work with Republicans to lower premiums, to strengthen health care, all we are doing is reflecting what the American people already want.