If you're wondering why the Senate is sitting on its hands right now, this is why... [View all]

[WilliamPitt]

"There's an arcane procedural reason the Senate is waiting. If it were to advance its own bill through the normal channels, stalling tactics expected to be used by arch-conservatives like Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) could delay passage until the weekend. But if the House were to pass a debt limit hike first, the Senate could declare the measure 'privileged' and advance it quickly, possibly by amending it and sending it back. 'We're sitting tight and prepping both options and will see what happens over there this afternoon,' said a senior Democratic Senate aide."

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/senate-hits-brakes-debt-deal-as-congress-looks-over-the-cliff