Senate and House Split as Obama Is to Address Budget  —  WASHINGTON - The Democratic Senate and Republican House put themselves on a legislative collision course Monday as they moved forward with significantly different plans on how to raise the debt limit and avert a possible federal default next week.

SMASH THE CEILING  —  In the past few years, the U.S. economy has been beset by the subprime meltdown, skyrocketing oil prices, the Eurozone debt crisis, and even the Tohoku earthquake.  Now it's staring at a new problem—a failure to raise the debt ceiling, which would almost certainly throw the economy back into recession.

Wonkbook: Republicans have won.  But can they stop there?  —  (YURI GRIPAS - REUTERS) We don't yet know what the final deal to raise the debt ceiling will be.  But now that Harry Reid is developing a proposal with $2.7 trillion in cuts and nothing in revenues, it's a safe bet that it won't include any tax increases.

Harry Reid Calls House Republicans' Bluff  —  Something you often see in negotiations is a mismatch between one side's stated sticking points and its real sticking points.  In the debate over the debt ceiling, for example, Republicans have sought to portray themselves as having two bottom lines.

Statement: Robert Greenstein, President, on House Speaker Boehner's New Budget Proposal  —  House Speaker John Boehner's new budget proposal would require deep cuts in the years immediately ahead in Social Security and Medicare benefits for current retirees, the repeal of health reform's coverage expansions …

Boehner briefed Limbaugh on debt plan  —  Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) outlined the GOP's debt ceiling plan to conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh on Monday before showing it to his conference.  —  Limbaugh talked about the call he received from Boehner during his radio program Monday.

House Republicans Solve Debt Limit Impasse by Cutting Spending  —  No place for tax hikes in final debt limit deal.  —  Americans for Tax Reform applauds House Republicans for providing another tangible plan to cut spending and avoid default.  Consistent with Leadership's promise …