The Hill reports that as part of a must pass tax extenders bill, Congress is giving serious consideration to delaying for two years (until 2020) the 40% excise tax on high cost employer sponsored health benefits coverage and repeal of the onerous health insurer tax in 2018.  The AP reports on continuing negotiations over the FY 2016 omnibus appropriations bill to fund the federal government past December 11.  A partial government shutdown remains unlikely.  The FEHBlog will keep tracking these developments over the course of this week.