*Government Shutdown

Stop us if you have heard this one before: House Republican leadership spent the day struggling to find the votes for a partisan measure instead of reaching across the aisle to find agreement on a bill that can pass the Senate and be signed into law.

The Washington Post outlines Speaker Boehner’s chronic dilemma:

“Thank you, Madam Leader. I agree with the Leader, that this is a very positive meeting, as we expected it to be. The President is very committed to getting the government open, obviously, making sure that America pays its bills. 

“I don't know if there's much to add. I think the American people were heartened by the fact that Senators were talking.

Now in its third week, the economy is showing increasing signs of strain over the continuing Republican government shutdown. According to CQ:

“Two weeks into the government shutdown, signs that the result of a congressional standoff is starting to take a bite out of the economy are growing.”

While some Republicans have been recklessly denying the impacts of defaulting on our nation’s financial obligations and are refusing to ensure America pays its bills, financial leaders are already seeing the impact, as the Wall Street Journal reports:

After failing to undermine the Affordable Care Act more than 40 times, Republicans continue to hold the economy hostage with their political gimmicks.  Because House Republicans have refused to bring the Senate’s clean bill to the Floor for a vote to reopen the entire government, the Republican government shutdown has continued into its third week.

More bad news for Republicans in the latest poll out today by the Washington Post – ABC News:

As the Republican government shutdown continues on day 14, wanted to make sure you saw comments on the Sunday shows from Republican senators admitting that shutting down the government over defunding or delaying the Affordable Care Act was bad policy: