The sky is falling—or is it?

Associated Press In this Jan. 4, 1996, file photo, the sun gleams down on the closed Washington Monument as the federal budget impasse continued in Washington. President Barack Obama and his officials are doing their best to drum up public concern over the shock wave of spending cuts that could str...

In this Dec. 29, 1995, file photo President Clinton meets with Republican congressional leaders, Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole of Kansas, right, and House Speaker Newt Gingrich, second from left, at the White House to discuss the federal budget impasse. Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin is partially...