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I didn’t realize that that was the nature of the bill. With all the talk of 10 year budgets it gave the impression that these were appropriations bills. These then appear to be modifications to an existing budget?

I have read much, but still not quite up on federal budgetary process.

The bills that must originate in the US House of representatives are revenue bills, those dealing primarily with taxation.

So the Senate can originate a bill deals with the debt ceiling and/or budgets and appropriations.

Now about legislative procedures and the reason Reid is waiting for the House bill. The Senate can amend that bill and then it goes to Conference Committee which reconciles the two bills and then it goes back to each house for a straight up or down vote with no further amendments allowed. That is based on my memory from junior high civics.

The tea party guys are going to get screwed. Our system, through the wisdom of our founders, allows for minority groups in Congress to slow down and gum up the works. The majority in control of either house can pretty much stall things for a long time. However, there are procedures in the system which makes it very difficult for one house of Congress to completely block actions.