WATCH LIVE: Senate floor open as Ted Cruz 'filibuster' against Obamacare ends

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) on Tuesday announced that he would give a very long speech to oppose the the government budget over Obamacare "until I am no longer able to stand."

Within minutes, he had compared President Barack Obama's health care reform law to slavery during the Civil War and Nazis during World War II.

Update (4:05 p.m. ET): Cruz' speech cannot be officially considered a "filibuster" unless it delays Senate business. In this case, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has already locked in a vote for Wednesday morning. That can only be stopped if 41 senators object, which is highly unlikely.

Update (7:47 a.m. ET): The junior senator from Texas continued speaking through Wednesday morning, joined at times by Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Rand Paul (R-KY) and Mike Lee (R-UT).

Update (12:20 a.m. ET): Cruz ended his speech on Wednesday around noon. Senators continue to debate the consequences of defunding Obamacare.

Watch this video from C-SPAN, broadcast Sept. 24, 2013.

Watch this video from C-SPAN, broadcast Sept. 24, 2013.