The financial difficulties caused by the actions (or inactions) of Congress need to affect the members of Congress as much as they do other federal employees. Unless the members of Congress are personally impacted, they will continue with partisan posturing regardless of the damage done to the economy.
Sequestration was impacting the FAA and nothing was done until Congress realized that they were going to have to stand in lines. In the matter of hours, a bill was passed to allow the FAA to reallocate funds, showing that if they are directly impacted they are willing to work together.