It’s just another volley in the congressional game of ping pong leading up to Tuesday’s potential closure of the federal government. But Sen. Brian Schatz and Sen. Mazie Hirono voted Friday to strip references of defunding Obamacare from a stopgap spending measure. Hawaii’s senators also voted to send the measure back to the House.

The House had linked defunding health care reform in its version of the spending bill. What the House will do now before Tuesday’s deadline is anybody’s guess.

“A government shutdown would harm the people of Hawaii, and it is irresponsible for unbending and intransigent Tea Party Republicans to continue to hold our economy hostage so that they can get their way,” Schatz said in a press release. “Enough is enough. While the Continuing Resolution is not perfect, it will keep the government from shutting down. We must now work to pass a budget that removes damaging sequestration cuts and represents the priorities of working families.”

Hirono said in a statement, “Today, the far-right quest to defund Obamacare failed. Now it is time for House Republicans to act responsibly to stop a government shutdown that would furlough thousands of workers in Hawaii.”

Photo: Sen. Brian Schatz at a meeting of the Veterans Affairs Committee (Screenshot of committee hearing).

— Kery Murakami