The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to raise the nation's debt ceiling by an unspecified amount, suspending the federal government's restriction on borrowing until late May. The legislation passed the lower chamber by 285 to 144, with nearly three dozen Republicans opposing the measure. It includes something of a stunt -- a provision to force the Senate to write a budget by suspending lawmakers' pay unless they pass a spending resolution. The "No Budget No Pay" provision is largely symbolic, since Senate Budget Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-Wash) already has pledged to write a budget -- something that the Senate has not done for nearly four years, largely for political reasons. Read more http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/23/house-debt-ceiling_n_2533597.html
