Talks to End Shutdown, Lift Debt Ceiling Deadlocked

“Talks on ending the government shutdown and preventing default have once again deadlocked, but this time it is Democrats who are demanding changes to current law as a condition for ending the impasse,” ABC News reports.

“Democrats are now insisting on spending increases — they want to end most of the cuts put in place as part of the so-called sequester. To Republicans, this is a non-starter, unless the sequester spending cuts are replaced with cuts to entitlement programs — and that is a non-starter for Democrats.”

“The impasse makes it more likely there will be no agreement when markets reopen Monday morning.”

The Wall Street Journal reports Senate leaders “made clear they were aware that the uncertainty shrouding the debt ceiling could worry investors when the market reopens Monday.