Posted on 01/11/2013 12:54:27 PM PST by Sub-Driver
Reid to Obama: OK to skip Congress on debt ceiling By: Manu Raju and John Bresnahan January 11, 2013 02:47 PM EST
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other top Democrats are putting new pressure on the White House to circumvent Congress to boost the nation’s debt ceiling if no bipartisan agreement can be reached.
In a strongly worded letter to President Barack Obama obtained by POLITICO, Reid and his leadership team argue that failing to raise the $16.4 trillion debt ceiling would threaten the full faith and credit of the United States. Reid and Sens. Dick Durbin, Chuck Schumer and Patty Murray asserted that Obama “must make clear that you will never allow our nation’s economy and reputation to be held hostage.”
“In the event that Republicans make good on their threat by failing to act, or by moving unilaterally to pass a debt limit extension only as part of an unbalanced or unreasonable legislation, we believe you must be willing to take any lawful steps to ensure that America does not break its promises and trigger a global economic crisis — without congressional approval, if necessary,” the Friday letter to Obama says.
The letter amounts to the most concerted push yet by Senate Democratic leaders for the White House to take unprecedented action to raise the debt ceiling given the bitter stalemate in Congress. After the messy debt ceiling fight from 2011, and the protracted fiscal cliff battle that extended until New Year’s Day, Obama has said he will not use the debt ceiling increase as a bargaining chip and will refuse to negotiate with GOP leaders on the issue.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Reid, you don’t get it. You will be made powerless as well.
Well, the out-of-work-undertaker has just given reason for his own impeachment, along with The Usurper.
The Left loves Dictatorship.
I think people of Hairy Roid’s home state should seriously question why they’re paying him if he has no intent of representing them.
The Left IS Dictatorship.
With all these senators ceding their authority to the king, maybe its time to go back and take another look at the 17th amendment.
Take away the debt ceiling ll together, why even have the fight? ..the president can’t borrow money by himself....congress needs to authorize new borrowing...
Reid: the representatives of the people are a non-entity. We in the House of Lords and the King shall decide all matters.
taxation without representation
“maybe its time to go back and take another look at the 17th amendment”
While we’re at it, maybe dig into the 16th as well.
Is Reid giving Obama permission to ignore the House? On what authority, just by virtue of being a Democrat?
-PJ
So how much does Obama need it raised to? Where is the budget confirming the numbers? What is Obama waiting for...
fairy dust?
The US no longer has any “faith and credit”. We are being run by knaves and fools.
And.. uh.... WHO will vote to convict?
Who the hell died and left the weaselly little bass turd Reid in charge? Yo Dingy! For once in your low life, earn your pay and do your job. Pass a budget you maggot!
The Roman Senate is such a perfect match for Emperor Zero.
“In the event that Republicans make good on their threat by failing to act, or by moving unilaterally to pass a debt limit extension only as part of an unbalanced or unreasonable legislation, we believe you must be willing to take any lawful steps to ensure that America does not break its promises and trigger a global economic crisis — without congressional approval, if necessary,”
If zero does actually usurp spending authority, a breech of the Constitution is only one worry. Such an act would undoubtedly be challenged in court and would shake investor confidence. Investors would rightfully be concerned as to the legal status of any bonds issued by the US government after an unconstitutional usurpation.
If no agreement is reached then Congress, if it has the gonads, should authorize spending for servicing the debt, paying Federal employees(military especially), and paying out Social Security. Period. Everything else would have to be negotiated. That would remove the ‘threat’ of government shut down and possibly hold off any credit downgrade. IMHO
Thank you for the post of facts.
For the record, Casey Jr. was the first U.S. Senator to come up with this asinine suggestion just a day or two after he was safely re-elected in November.
IOW, if congress does not rubber stamp what el presidente wants, then el presidente is free to rule by fiat. That makes the president a dictator and congress a privy council. And people like Bob Casey Jr. and Harry Reid become even more useless than they already are.
In what way can the House of Representatives force the President to do anything?
Pretty much only through the power of the purse.
If the President chooses to violate the US Constitution and attempt to use the Treasury Department as his own funding source, then this is not a separation of powers issue. This is a clear violation of the US Constitution.
The SCOTUS must rule; it must enter the fight.
But, even then, what means does the SCOTUS have to enforce their rulings? None.
The US Governmental system assumes everyone wants to uphold the Constitution. What happens when that is not the case, and especially when it’s the executive who is simply going off as a lone ranger emperor?
At that point, the only recourse is for STATES to refuse to comply and for tax-payers to refuse to participate.
In what way can the House of Representatives force the President to do anything?
Pretty much only through the power of the purse.
If the President chooses to violate the US Constitution and attempt to use the Treasury Department as his own funding source, then this is not a separation of powers issue. This is a clear violation of the US Constitution.
The SCOTUS must rule; it must enter the fight.
But, even then, what means does the SCOTUS have to enforce their rulings? None.
The US Governmental system assumes everyone wants to uphold the Constitution. What happens when that is not the case, and especially when it’s the executive who is simply going off as a lone ranger emperor?
At that point, the only recourse if for STATES to refuse to comply and for tax-payers to refuse to participate.
Someone posted on here that it’s too early to start shooting.
I think it’s about time we start.
I bet it would sink in pretty fast if we gave them a few examples of just how powerless they are and who the boss is.
Impeachment is an option.
How about this, we have an impeachment and skip the trial in the Senate Weed, er, Reid.
Impeachment does nothing.
It simply is a recommendation for the Senate to have a “trial”.
A democrat Senate would do nothing.
But, even assuming a republican senate, it would still have to be a super-majority, iirc, to convict.
A long time ago. The 17th was an awful amendment and totally goes against the intent of the framers.
At a minimum, the State Legislators should be able to recall their own Senators.
This is now ... That was "then" (a walk through history) ...
Senator 0bama calls President (although he didn't care to respectfully use the title) Bush 'irresponsible and unpatriotic' for requesting to increase the Nation's debt ceiling.
Impeachment will not result in a conviction, but Obama has broken his oath to protect and defend the Constitution and, in fact, is attempting to subvert it where ever possible. Calling him on the carpet in the House would seriously shift the debate and infuriate the narcissist.
Congress (including and especially house republicans) have abdicated their budgetting duties to The Fed already. Congress has NO CLUE how much funny money the fed has printed up.
Harry doesn’t say anything about circumventing the congress to issue debt.
That’s just POLITICO’s spin.
The administration will have to adjust what, besides debt, it pays for and how much. It’s not ‘regular’ but it’s no big deal.
Harry: Do your job and pass a budget, you weasely little ****.
Obama skips debt commission meeting
December 9th, 2010
http://whitehouse.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/09/obama-skips-debt-commission-meeting/
he’s deeply concerned, for sure.
I don't think the Senate can ignore an impeachment. It's not a bill that Harry Reid can refuse to bring to a vote.
Besides, Chief Justice Roberts presides over the trial in the Senate, not Reid.
-PJ
Reid is wrong legally, Constitutionally and very simply factually.
1. Only Congress can authorize NEW debt issues by tshe Federal Government - the treasury, Constitutionally MUST have CONGRESSIONAL authorization for them; the Executive can only carry them out, it cannot self-authorize them.
2. Raising the national debt “ceiling” IS a matter of CONGRESS authorizing the treasury to issue more debt than has already, previously been authorized. Raising the “national debt ceiling” IS the treasury issuing MORE debt, AS AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS, so that the total debt outstanding is increased.
3. NOT raising the “national debt ceiling”, in and of itself, CANNOT cause a failure of the federal government to honor the full faith and credit of the debt it already has.
4. Failure to honor the full faith and credit of any U.S. debt has nothing to do with the debt ceiling.
5. Failure to honor the full faith and credit of any U.S. debt can only occur when the treasury fails to make interest or principal (on maturity) payments on debt already issued. It has nothing to do with any new debt ceiling/limit. If principal is paid on an older debt issue, the sum of that debt issue becomes available for new debt - if needed - under any authorized debt limit.
6. Failure to honor the full faith and credit of any U.S. debt can only occur when (a) the treaury is told to pay other things and leave U.S. debt obligations that are due (any, some, all) unpaid or (b) all available revenue IS used to pay U.S. debt obligations that are due and it is not enough to pay for all U.S. debt obligations that are due.
7. Harry Reid knows that neither (a) or (b) above are in the cards. Monthly federal revenue is enough to pay current U.S. debt obligations coming due and pay for SOME other things, and Obama may be an ideologue and a Marxist political thug, but his treasury dept will pay the debt obligations.
8. The only thing in real jeopardy if the “national debt ceiling” is not raised IS NOT “the full faith and credit” of the United States. The only thing in real jeopardy is Obama’s spending on all sorts of other things BESIDES any interest and principle due on any part of the federal debts.
Harry Reid is a liar par excellance. He knows there is neither a Constitutional crisis or a “national debt ceiling crisis” or a crisis concerning the “full faith and credit” of the United States.
The only thing IN CRISIS, concerning the national debt ceiling, is the ability of Obama and Reid to continue spending our money as they have been. That’s the fact.
The same is true of any illegal gun grab attempt-- we can hope the courts would immediately issue a restraining order, but that's a thin reed to hang the Republic upon.
More direct action would be necessary--the best would the states immediately convening a new Constitutional Convention and disbanding the current corrupt regime.
A democrat Senate would do nothing. It doesn’t matter who presides.
A democratic president could murder the chief justice in the presence of the democrat senators and they’d still vote to acquit.
It would be a waste of time.
How about a budget first!
As long as there are enough revenues coming in each month to pay the interest on the debt, there is no default.
This is just a trial balloon and it should be smacked down swiftly and surely by the GOP in the Congress.
If Obama attempts this, it will precipitate a Constitutional crisis.
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