Leaders in the Senate announced they were close to a deal to end the government shutdown and avoid a federal debt default in the next few days, reports the Wall Street Journal. The deal would fund the federal government until January 15 and raise the debt ceiling until February 15. It assumes both parties would negotiate long-term changes to the federal budget by mid-December. In addition, The Hill reports it would delay an ObamaCare tax despised by unions. Politico reports on Speaker John Boehner’s “uncomfortable choice” between passing the Senate deal or risk the consequences of a debt default.