Blackberry Posts Loss as Revenue Misses Estimates  The Ticker
Republicans' Debt-Limit Proposal Is Real Reason to Party  The
inauguration was a splendid affair, but it was more a series of
behind-the-scenes developments that made me believe hope and
change are in the air.  House Republicans announced today that
they will vote, probably this week, to lift the U.S. debt limit
for four months, until May 19. Republicans are backing down from
their insistence that any increase in the debt limit be offset
by dollar-for-dollar spending cuts.  Naturally, the measure
comes with conditions: Congress must pass a budget resolution
for the next fiscal year by April 15. If either chamber fails to
adopt a budget by then, its members' pay will be withheld until
they do so, or until the end of 2014, whichever comes first.
For purely political reasons, the Democratic-led Senate has
avoided bringing budget resolutions to the floor since 2009.
(Republicans like to use the measures to force Democrats into
casting votes on sensit