Signs of Hope in the U. S. Government Shutdown Stalemate

After 34 long days, there's a glimmer of hope in the U. S. government shutdown. Both Senate Republicans and Democrats are talking about a possible way out. This shutdown has hit hard. Low-income families are struggling with food stamp cuts. Soldiers aren't getting paid. Airports are working with less staff. All because Congress and President Trump can't agree on funding. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican, said he's feeling optimistic. But he's not too sure yet. He warned not to get ahead of things. Democrats want to tie funding to a health insurance subsidy that's about to expire. Senate Democrat Dick Durbin agreed that they might be close to a solution. But he's still worried about healthcare costs. Senator Susan Collins said things feel better this week. Staff from both parties worked all weekend to break the deadlock. But she warned that everything could fall apart again. There's no agreement yet. Meanwhile, some House moderates proposed a compromise. They want to extend a healthcare tax credit for two years. But with new limits for higher earners. This shutdown has been going on since October 1. Senate groups have had private meetings. But they haven't found a solution yet. It's been a tough time for federal workers. They're doing their jobs without pay. The fight is over $1. 7 trillion in discretionary funds. That's about one-third of total U. S. spending.