A last-minute deal in Congress keeps the federal government functioning for the time being. The spending plan passed shortly after this conversation occured keeps the proverbial lights on for another 45 days. Bankrate.com senior analyst Mark Hamrick discusses the effect the instability in Congress can have on other aspects of the economy.
This isn't the first time a government shutdown has been a risk and even though another short term shutdown isn't likely to be catastrophic, Hamrick points out that the runaway debt and deficits that are not being fixed is unsustainable.