Republicans scramble for ideas to reopen government after pressure tactics fail

USA TODAY - For more and to sign up click here Al Weaver Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and his Republican leadership team are scrambling for new ideas to end the 38-day government shutdown after it became clear Friday that tactics to pressure Democrats to vote for a House-passed funding bill have failed so far. Senate Republicans are batting around various ideas to break the stalemate, such as voting…