I don't understand what's so hard to understand.

The GOP owns the house. Dems control senate and whitehouse.

The GOP can't pass anything as they arent a majority. Then can only block. However, they :

Are the only ones who have passed a budget
Are the only ones who truly want to shrink govt spending and have proposed a plan

Doing an up or down vote on "raise the debt ceiling" can't happen. GOP wants spending cuts, and dems won't let it happen because it effects their pet projects unless they can tax the "rich".