Senate leaders hit a snag today in their efforts to end a political stalemate that has idled over 350,000 federal workers and presented the country with the threat of a debt default.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) leaves the Capitol building
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) leaves the Capitol building (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
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Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid told colleagues from the floor Sunday that "Americans want Congress to compromise."

Yet Reid and his Republican counterpart, Kentucky's Mitch McConnell, remained at odds over spending issues.

McConnell insisted that a solution was readily available. He cited a proposal from a bipartisan group of 12 senators that would re-open the government and fund it at current levels for six month while raising the debt limit through Jan. 31.

Finance officials worried about Washington flirting with default

Talk of a possible U.S. government default dominated a meeting of global finance officials in Washington this weekend.

However, the sessions of the 188-nation International Monetary Fund and its sister lending agency, the World Bank, ended with some hope over signs that the U.S. and European economies are pulling out of long slumps.

During three days of meetings, top officials pressed the U.S. to resolve the political impasse over the debt ceiling. The standoff has blocked approval of legislation to increase the government's borrowing limit before a fast-approaching Thursday deadline.

Amid shutdown, runners protest at Valley Forge

Military supporters protest in front of the White House
Military supporters protest in front of the White House (Pete Marovich/Getty Images)
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Dozens of people have staged a protest run through Valley Forge National Historical Park near Philadelphia after a runner and others were ticketed amid the government shutdown.

Since the shutdown closed the popular site, at least 20 people have gotten $100 tickets for allegedly violating the closure order, mostly for parking in the park.

Several running groups took part Sunday in what some called a "Patriot Run" to call attention to the shutdown. They ran on state and local roads that cut through the national park but remain open and are just a few feet from park paths.

The National Park Service says tickets have been issued at parks across the country. A spokesman says safety is a concern, given widespread staff furloughs.


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