Source: Erie Times-News, Pa.self storageOct. 13--For nearly two weeks, America has been on edge.The federal government partially shut down, fears have been raised about a possible default on the nation's bills, and Republicans and Democrats blamed each other.But the two congressmen from northwestern Pennsylvania, who divide their representation of Erie County, sense a possible breakthrough following talks between the White House and Republicans."We're at least at the table talking now, which is a huge turnaround from where we were a day ago," U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, of Butler, R-3rd Dist., said in an interview Friday.U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, of Howard Township, Centre County, R-5th Dist., called it "a good sign" that President Barack Obama is now meeting with legislators, including Republican senators, about the debt ceiling and the shutdown.Thompson said neither side can afford a "no compromise" position now.Public opinion suggests the thaw in relations is due, with Americans growing increasingly frustrated and angry over yet another showdown in Washington, D.C.And Tom Ridge, the former governor and former six-term congressman from northwestern Pennsylvania, told the Erie Times-News that he is "beyond disappointed" by the inability of the two sides to resolve the issue."I'm disgusted by the whole mess. I think it's a failure of leadership on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue," said Ridge, referring to Congress and the White House."At the end of the day, you're accountable not just to the people that supported you, you're accountable to the people that supported the other candidate," said Ridge, the former secretary of Homeland Security who lives in Washington but maintains a home in Millcreek."Right now, what you see is a 'my way or the highway' mentality," said Ridge, who with his wife, Michele, attended Thursday's dedication of the Ridges' career archives at Mercyhurst University.A possible dealHouse Republicans offered to pass legislation to avert default and end the partial shutdown as part of a deal that would include cuts in benefit programs.Republicans also seek changes in the 3-year-old health-care law, the Affordable Care Act, as part of an end to a stalemate that has idled hundreds of thousands of federal workers, closed national parks, stopped the issuance of passports and roiled the stock market.Kelly said one possibility in amending the health law, also called Obamacare, would be the repeal of the tax on medical devices such as cardiac pacemakers and hip implants.Another would delay the individual sign-ups for Obamacare, Kelly said, after technology glitches prevented millions of Americans from trying to access government-run, health-care websites."The rollout hasn't been very smooth," Kelly said.He suggested a delay so that the kinks could be worked out. "There's nothing wrong with saying we need a little more time to roll this out," he said.Obama has insisted that he wilmini storage not negotiate over federal spending, or other issues, until the government fully reopens and the debt limit is raised to avert possible default.And Obama isn't likely to agree to delay the individual health-care rollout that began Oct. 1.Kelly said it's a matter of fairness after the administration this summer announced a one-year delay in requiring businesses with 50 or more employees to provide health coverage for their workers."Is one group getting favor over another?" Kelly asked."I understand it's the law, but some pieces of it could be delayed to make it easier for the American people," he said.A flurry of billsKelly also said the House has passed a series of bills, with bipartisan support, that would fund specific programs during the shutdown, but only two have gained support thus far from the Democratic-led Senate and Obama.But asked if he would approve a clean continuing resolution without strings that would end the shutdown, Kelly said, "I can't answer that, because I don't know what's going to come back." He said he would support any negotiated solution that makes sense for the people of his district and the rest of the country.Thompson added: "One of the things we've tried to put on the table was to do a fiscally responsible continuing resolution, at the lower funding rates." He would oppose any resolution, however, that includes "continuing the out-of-control, excessive spending levels that we've had in the past. I would not be willing to go back to those days."However this plays out, neither Kelly nor Thompson said they want the government to default on its obligations."I think it is illegal, immoral and unethical that we would ever default," Thompson said. "I don't think default should ever be an option for our nation."Asked if he was willing to see the nation go into default, Kelly said, "Why would anyone say they want the nation to go into default? ... That's so far off the beaten path."Approval ratingsWith both the White House and Congress taking public opinion hits for the latest crisis, congressional approval ratings have sunk to 5 percent.And a new Associated Press-GfK poll holds Republicans more responsible, with 62 percent blaming the GOP.Kelly said the polls are going to rise and fall, "but I can't let that influence my dedication to the people of northwestern Pennsylvania."Thompson said he realizes congressional approval rates have plummeted to record lows.But both parties must be reasonable, he said.Kelly said it's important that the president continue the talks and rise above partisanship."The president has to be the biggest person in the room -- not the biggest Democrat, not the biggest Republican -- but the biggest American in the room," he said.The Associated Press contributed to this report.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 Erie Times-News (Erie, Pa.) 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