Federal Shutdown Ends

The House and U.S. Senate both approved a compromise late Wednesday and President Barack Obama signed the measure early this morning to end the 16-day Federal Government Shutdown. Wisconsin’s two U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson differed on the deal.  Baldwin says it “puts us on a path to having negotiations over a budget and bringing us back to an orderly way of getting the peoples’ business done.” Johnson was less optimistic about the deal, saying the government is “going to kick the can down the road again. We’re going to increase the debt burden on our children and grandchildren, without enacting any fiscal disciplines.” The White House directed all agencies to reopen promptly. Furloughed federal employees across the country are expected to return to work today.