VP Joe Biden and his family took a breather over the Columbus Day weekend, even as the House and Senate remain at a stalemate over budget negotiations with the debt ceiling quickly approaching. The trip included “‘essential’ government workers, who must work despite the government shutdown,” reports The Weekly Standard. “That includes his Secret Service detail, as well as the Secret Service details assigned to the rest of his family, and other support staff. They are protecting the Bidens as they vacation – but aren’t getting paid because of the federal shutdown.” Of course, Mr. Biden probably thought this was a 2-for-1 deal: There may be a government “shutdown,” and taxpayers are still being forced to foot the bill for the Bidens’ extravagant vacation, but at least the security’s free.