Lawmakers are running out of options to avoid a possible government shutdown, but a once obscure tax could now play an important role in negotiations.

The office established as the temporary oversight agency for Iraq reconstruction will cease operations.

If Congress doesn’t strike a budget deal by Monday night, what have been deemed ‘non-essential’ parts of the federal government will close down. Turns out, this includes the statisticians who are calculating what is arguably the most market-sensitive government report of the week:  Friday’s scheduled employment and unemployment report.