Three Anti-Abortion Republicans Tell House GOP To Drop Planned Parenthood Rider To Avoid Shutdown  —  If Congress fails to reach a budget deal, the government will shut down at midnight tonight — an event that would hinder economic recovery and withhold payment to soldiers.

No Accord in Budget Talks as Policy Fights Hamper Deal  —  WASHINGTON — Another day of intense negotiations between the two parties failed to yield a budget deal on Thursday, leaving the federal government hours from a shutdown.  —  After the third round of White House talks in 24 hours …

White House hopes last-minute heroics keep government running  —  Republicans have hit President Barack Obama for being out of touch, disengaged and unwilling to lead on the budget negotiations — and Democrats aren't wild about his taste for last-minute heroics either.

Both parties continue talks over elusive 2011 budget deal  —  Gallery: Government shutdown: Democrats and Republicans have so far failed to reach an agreement on the 2011 federal budget, increasing the likelihood of the first government shutdown in more than 15 years.

Bachmann wants ‘clean’ bill to fund government for one week  —  Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) expressed support for a one-week government funding bill approved by the House, but suggested it should be stripped of language dealing with abortion.  —  In an interview with CNN's John King on Thursday night …

The Ryan Journey  —  For decades, academics and think tankers have been proposing plans to avert a fiscal catastrophe.  The ensuing debates were always sedate, high-minded affairs.  Now Republican political leaders have come up with a bold proposal of their own and the atmosphere is totally different.