It’s now the 24th day of the partial government shutdown and we have yet to see signs of a breakthrough. There doesn’t seem to be much of any negotiating happening at the moment either. Will this be the week where stories of unpaid TSA officers and FDA food inspectors drive the parties to end the shutdown? We shall see.

The business of government – while centered on this partial shutdown – will begin to pick up as February comes into view. House member committee assignments are being finalized with the first hearings scheduled in the next two weeks.