House Republicans are set to vote today on several measures funding parts of the government piecemeal, to reduce the political fallout from shutting the government, a move that’s being widely interpreted as a sign we may be headed for a protracted shutdown. Dems will reject these measures and continue to insist Republicans buckle and pass a “clean CR.” In another sign Dems may well hold firm and not let Republicans escape from this predicament on terms more favorable to them, there’s now serious talk among Democrats of not accepting a GOP budget offering unless it also includes a debt limit hike if this shutdown ... (full story)