With no budget deal on the horizon, the Obama administration warned today that a federal government shutdown would spark layoffs of as many as 800,000 federal employees and "could stall tax refunds, close national parks and museums, and put tens of thousands of Californians temporarily out of work," reports the California News Service. Although there has been "progress" with budget talks today, Obama will meet again with Republican House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid at 4 p.m. PST. "It will be their second White House negotiating session in one day — the first time that has happened and an indication that pressure is intensifying to reach agreement ahead of Friday night's shutdown deadline."

Tomorrow, the Republicans will most likely to introduce a measure that would slice $12 billion from federal spending. The bill, "which would also fully fund the military for the rest of the year" while banning federally paid abortion in D.C., is called "the troop funding" bill. Naturally, the Democrats oppose it. This morning, Democratic majority leader Harry Reid had this to say: "I have told the speaker that. Republicans in the Senate have told the speaker that we can't pass another short-term c.r. It's not only bad policy, it's a fantasy." So with budget talks stalled, the only other serious option is a shutdown. But how will this affect San Francisco?

While the U.S. Post Office would remain open, employees at the 27 California Internal Revenue Service branches might find their offices closed on Monday, right in the middle of tax season. "None would be paid until the dispute is over, though essential employees are likely to be reimbursed with back pay."

Other possible closures: National parks (including Yosemite, Muir Woods, Alcatraz Island and the Point Reyes National Seashore); visa/pasport offices; and social security claims. Government services deemed "essential," like military, air travel, and border patrol, will remain open.

After tonight's budget talks, Obama will leave Washington on Friday morning for Indianapolis, "where he will talk about energy independence, then return to the White House in the early afternoon," reports the New York Times. Republicans have accused him of taking the possible shutdown "lightly."

The last time the U.S. government shutdown was in the mid-'90s, when President Clinton and the Republican-controlled Congress feuded over Medicare, education, the environment and public health.