HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — The federal government has been shut down for more than five weeks, impacting families, food aid and federal workers across the country. Eyewitness News sat down with U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., to see when Washington will get back to work.

"I'm hopeful that it can be opened up pretty soon," Paul said Thursday. "There are discussions going on."

Paul said the sticking point is Democrats who want to continue the expanded Obamacare subsidies. The continuing resolution sponsored by Republicans aim to keep the Biden spending levels proposed in December of last year.

"Every Democrat in the Senate has voted for this who is now voting against it," Paul said. "That's the predicament but I think if we have a vote on these expanded Obamacare subsidies that may placate them enough to go back to the spending levels they advocated last year."

Both sides are pointing the finger at the other and it seems lawmakers aren't open to compromise.

"I think it depends on the issue," Paul said. "Spending yes. It's not that we are at odds because we hate each other on spending. We have a difference of opinion on how much should be spent."

Paul feels both parties spend too much money.

"I don't understand even though we have a disagreement on actual spending levels in Obamacare, why we wouldn't continue to pay government workers who are showing up each day," he said. "I think a lot of government could continue and there have been various proposals. What I propose is that we continue to spend all the money at 94% of what we spent last year."

Only time will tell if Republicans and Democrats can work out their differences and end the longest government shutdown in American history.