Leon LaBrecque, chief strategist and founder of LJPR, a firm that manages nearly $500 million in assets for investors, says, "It very difficult to believe, although possible, that Congress and the president can solve these problems before December 31.". . . 

 

Josh Gordon, policy director of The Concord Coalition, a nonpartisan organization that focuses on federal budget issues, takes a more optimistic view than LaBrecque.  He says Congress and the Obama administration probably will agree at least on an outline for a compromise.