Shutdown over, but solution to next one unclear

In this Oct. 10, 2013 file photo Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew testifies before the Senate Finance Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington to urge Congress to reopen the government and lift the US borrowing cap. Lew said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013, during a pre-taped interview that the fight over government spending pushed the country near the brink of default and the lesson has to be that it can’t happen again. Lew says this latest battle was scarier than the 2011 budget fight because it got “so close to the edge.” AP

WASHINGTON – The partial shutdown of the federal government has ended and leaders from both political parties agree it must not happen again, but no solid plan has emerged for avoiding a potential sequel.

The 16-day partial shutdown ended last week but a possible repeat may be on the horizon.

Lawmakers approved a budget that keeps the lights on through Jan. 15 and lets the Treasury Department continue to pay its bills through Feb. 7.

“This can never happen again,” Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said.

Added Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell: “There’ll not be another government shutdown, you can count on that.”

That’s not to say there is a solution at hand, and no one is rushing forward with alternatives to a potential repeat of the gridlock that shuttered parts of the government and pushed the nation toward a default on its debt. The political price has been high ahead of 2014’s midterm elections, especially for Republicans.

“I think there was some ground lost from the political point of view,” said Republican former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, a potential 2016 presidential contender.

Democratic House Leader Nancy Pelosi of California reiterated the public’s reaction to the partisan gamesmanship that played out over more than two weeks: “I join the American people in their disgust at what happened in terms of the shutdown of government.”

But there’s no real way forward to dodge a repeat and its chief architect, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, is urging one. Hundreds of thousands of government workers were sent home amid the shutdown and national parks were barricaded while politicians negotiated. The whole situation could be repeated early next year — combined with economic consequences, perhaps with more severe consequences.

“The deal this week was a lousy deal for the American people,” Cruz said.

It’s not an ideal situation, but no one has a tangible way to avoid the threat of another shutdown.

“We just went through an awful period for our country,” said Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham.

A standoff between President Barack Obama and a group of Republicans over spending for the budget year beginning Oct. 1 and defunding the nation’s health care overhaul led to the shutdown. Lawmakers also pushed the country to the edge of economic default by threatening the Treasury Department’s authority to continue borrowing the money needed to pay the nation’s bills.

The bitter feuding ended on Wednesday, and a group of House and Senate lawmakers has until Dec. 13 to produce a spending deal to stave off another shutdown and possible default in early 2014.

“There were really no winners,” said Democratic Sen. Mark Warner. “I mean, our country took an economic hit.”

The public won’t tolerate a repeat, said Republican Sen. John McCain. “I am very confident the American people will not stand for another repetition of this disaster.”

Lew appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” McConnell, Warner and Graham were on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” Bush and Pelosi spoke to ABC’s “This Week.” McCain and Cruz were on CNN’s “State of the Union.”