Three Paths to Avoid a Shutdown
Democratic leaders have set the stage for a showdown at the end of September, as their demands for health-care concessions as part of any government funding deal raises the chances of an Oct. 1 shutdown.
But a shutdown isn’t inevitable, even as congressional leaders stake out opposing positions. Lawmakers in both parties have cautiously identified off ramps that could diffuse the tension and allow for a bipartisan deal to fund the government. Leaders in either party could fail to rally their members for the fight and be forced to make concessions. Or President ...