the minority leader said. Cruz’s crusade, which has thus far proved fruitless, aims to block the Senate from changing a bill that would strip funding for Obamacare.

"I intend to speak in support of defunding Obamacare until I am no longer able to stand," he said. "All across this country Americans are suffering because of Obamacare. Obamacare isn't working."

"Republicans have "a rare opportunity to defund this law with a simple majority," McConnell added. "We should have that vote."

McConnell argued he was giving Democrats "a second chance."

"Do they stand with the people of their states who do not want this (health care) law to be implemented, or do they double down on this failed experiment?" he asked. "That's the question."

For his part, Reid announced Tuesday morning that the Senate's first key procedural vote in the shutdown showdown will take place early afternoon on Wednesday -- five days before the partial shutdown would otherwise start to take effect.

"Just as the economy begins to gain steam, some Republicans in Congress seem determined to derail four years of progress," Reid said on the Senate floor.

Cruz said he will be joined in his efforts by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), who was seated in the Senate chamber when Cruz began speaking at 2:41 p.m.

Cruz and Lee have vowed to use whatever Senate procedural tactics are available to slow debate on the legislation. Their filibuster is the culmination of a strategy they began developing in the summer, when Lee started looking for allies in a move to defund the health-care law by using annual spending bills for federal agencies as potential leverage.

"A great many Texans, a great many Americans feel they do not have a voice, and so I hope to play some very small role in providing the voice," he said.

I don't know who these imaginary people who are "suffering" because of Obamacare are, or why Cruz is hearing these voices in his head (perhaps the tinfoil is too tight) but I demand drug and alcohol testing for everyone in Congress, and now!

Also, too, a psychiatric evaluation, ASAP. They've got the best healthcare in the world -- government-controlled, I might add -- so they might as well get some help, and step down from their elected positions.