Shed no tears: The Senate returns today, with a shutdown expected by the end of tomorrow if no plan for funding the government can be reached.

There are two plans on the table, but neither appeals to the opposing party.

"Republicans are proposing to extend current funding through Nov. 21 to buy more time for bipartisan negotiations over full-year appropriations bills," reports The Washington Post. "They have rejected Democrats' demands for health care changes along with the extension, arguing Democrats should accept the bill because it does not include any controversial policy priorities and would keep the government running." Meanwhile, "Democrats have offered a counterproposal that would extend funding through Oct. 31 but which also includes several of their preferred policy changes,"

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