The recently passed appropriations bill includes a sensible but temporary fix to the recurring debt ceiling problem, previously known as the McConnell Rule but now known as the Default Prevention Act. It has worked before, it is working now, and it should be made permanent!
Why is this important?
The recently passed HR 2775 that reopened the US government and lifted the debt ceiling includes (in section 1002) what had previously been referred to as "The McConnell Rule" but which is now formally known as the Default Prevention Act of 2013. Essentially, it lets Congress pass a budget and puts the responsibility for raising the debt ceiling on the President. The President can raise the ceiling, Congress can object with a simple majority, the President can veto the objection, and Congress can overrule it with a 2/3 majority. It makes very good sense and should satisfy all but the most extreme partisans.
