Democrats in Congress have suggested that America’s most unpopular institution should delegate one of its last remaining authorities—the raising of the debt ceiling—to the Executive Branch, Zerohedge reported.
It comes as they desperately scramble to pass a proposed $3.5 trillion spending package through the budget reconciliation process, which would allow them to avoid seeking bipartisan consensus.
But GOP leaders have sought to use the soon-to-expire debt ceiling as one of their last remaining bargaining chips, threatening a government shutdown similar to that which Democrats triggered during the Trump administration.
A Senate petition issued by Republicans suggested that Democrats have partaken in “an unprecedented deficit spending spree.”
In response to the Republican roadblock, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other Democrats have been forced to consider alternative—and possibly illegal—means of delegating Congress’ constitutional authority.
Pelosi warned that ill effects would follow if Congress failed to raise the debt ceiling, including a default for the first time in American history.
According to Pelosi, if this were to happen, it would wipe out “trillions in family wealth” for middle Americans.
“Just the discussion of … failing to raise the debt ceiling [under the Obama Administration] lowered our credit rating,” Pelosi claimed, making no mention of the Trump-era shutdown that she oversaw.
“This is not about future spending—this is to pay the bills that were incurred,” she continued. “Only 3% of this is about Joe Biden’s presidency. The bulk of it is under the previous president’s administration.”
Pelosi also suggested that the “public debt clause” of the 14th Amendment might be invoked.
While a clause in the post-Civil-War amendment does indicate that the “public debt of the United States … shall not be questioned,” it nowhere promises the president unilateral authority to do Congress’s duty.
When asked if Democrats would attempt to use the clause to justify extralegal action, Pelosi said, “I’ll let you know soon… The point is it’s in the Constitution. We really do not have to go through this all the time.”
Pelosi also said that Democrats would consider delegating their task to the Treasury secretary, on the grounds that Congress cannot be trusted to make important decisions regarding budgets or debt.
