The federal government shutdown dragged on Thursday after Republican and Democratic bills to reopen the government failed again.

Government shutdowns have become more frequent as political brinkmanship defines budget negotiations, with the latest federal shutdown starting Wednesday morning.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune told ABC News Live's Linsey Davis that federal workers will get back pay once the government shutdown ends.

A s far as government shutdowns go, this one has so far lacked the round-the-clock chaos of its predecessors. There have been no dramatic late-night clashes on the floors of Congress, no steep stock-market plunges driven by panicked investors,

The Senate is scheduled to vote on Oct. 9 on competing proposals to reopen the government. Will the seventh attempt be successful?

Pessimism is high among lawmakers in Congress as fears grow of a painful and protracted battle that could go on for several more weeks.

With Republicans and Democrats dug in to their respective positions, it is not clear when Congress will restore government funding and end a shutdown that started October 1.

It's Day 8 of the federal government shutdown amid a bitter impasse on Capitol Hill. When does the Senate vote today? Will the government reopen?