India, Nov. 9 -- Senators met for a rare Saturday session, with no indications of an impending breakthrough, with the goal of ending the government shutdown.

The chamber is scheduled to meet again on Sunday after adjourning early on Saturday night. The Senate will keep meeting until the government reopens, Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters after the session ended today.

In the thick of a lingering government shutdown, Senate Republicans must secure at least seven Democratic votes if they are to end the impasse without rewriting Senate rules.

Holding 53 seats in the 100-member chamber, the GOP cannot clear the 60-vote threshold from the filibuster rule on funding legislation without reaching across party lines.

The Senat...