Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah (left), and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, walk to the Senate floor on Oct. 16 to vote on a bill to raise the debt ceiling and fund the government. Evan Vucci/AP hide caption
Sen. Ted Cruz Sen. Ted Cruz
With the shutdown-debt ceiling fight over, Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, appeared to strengthen his hand within the House GOP caucus but weaken it outside that group. Evan Vucci/AP hide caption
Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., offered a path forward in the fiscal stalemate, but Tea Party hard-liners weren't impressed. Mark Wilson/Getty Images hide caption
On the sixth day of a federal government shutdown that has barricaded national parks and attractions, tourists take photos at the World World II Memorial in Washington Sunday. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
Enroll America outreach worker Rosy Mota (right) talks about the federal health care law with a CVS customer. Carrie Feibel hide caption
Houston Gears Up For Obamacare, Despite GOP Opposition
Houston Public Media News 88.7
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., looks at a countdown-to-shutdown clock during a news conference in the Capitol on Thursday. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption
President Obama, accompanied by first lady Michelle Obama, reads Green Eggs and Ham at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll in April 2010. Charles Dharapak/AP hide caption
A statue of George Washington, in the U.S. Capitol's Rotunda. SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
Democratic Sens. Harry Reid of Nevada and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan visited with mothers and babies at a Capitol Hill Obamacare event Wednesday. Jacquelyn Martin/AP hide caption
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz speaks to the media Wednesday after delivering a marathon Senate floor speech. Jacquelyn Martin/AP hide caption
Sen. Ted Cruz, worked a rare Senate overnight shift as he kept up a lengthy diatribe against Obamacare (with many digressions.) Evan Vucci/AP hide caption
Sen. Ted Cruz's anti-Obamacare strategy seemed to fall flat Tuesday with many of his fellow Senate Republicans. C-SPAN.org screen shot hide caption
Republican Ted Cruz (left) raises his hand with his father, Rafael, while holding his daughter Caroline during a victory speech in November 2012. David J. Phillip/AP hide caption
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz is becoming the face of a possible government shutdown over Obamacare, and that has many fellow Republicans bashing him for what they see as an ill-conceived gambit. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption