Washington (CNN) - In the first sign of progress in days of stalemate over the payroll tax extension and a government funding bill, House Speaker John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell met privately for about an hour in the Capitol Wednesday night.

There was no immediate sign that a deal was near, but the meeting could be an indication they finally are working directly with each other toward resolving the dispute that threatens to shutter the government at the end of the week and raise the payroll tax rate on working Americans at the end of the month.