1.   Congress was frantically trying to complete a bill raising the federal debt ceiling in time for President Bush to sign today.

2.   Congress was once again considering raising the federal debt ceiling.

3.   Congressional Republicans have made an increase in the debt ceiling contingent on a balanced budget agreement to their liking.

4.   If the assessed valuation of Los Angeles could be rapidly increased, its debt ceiling would be that much higher.

5.   No sooner had the new deadline been announced than Newt Gingrich suggested lifting the debt ceiling.

6.   When November came, and the debt ceiling had not moved, Rubin postponed catastrophe by borrowing from two government pension funds.

7.   Also, are Republicans threatening homeowners and their interest rates by refusing to raise the debt ceiling and speaking of a possible default?

8.   And Clinton and Rubin have rejected the Republican proposal to raise the debt ceiling because it includes provisions such as an increase in Medicare premiums.

9.   And things will get tougher at the end of the month when the administration runs out of ways to finesse the looming federal debt ceiling, he said.

10.   As it is, the debt ceiling has produced crisis after crisis.