Democrats pressure Biden to ready 14th Amendment for the debt ceiling
by Ryan King, Breaking Politics Reporter |
May 17, 2023 04:01 PM
Multiple Senate Democrats are pressing President Joe Biden to lay down the groundwork for deploying the 14th Amendment to break the debt limit impasse.
At least five senators signed onto a draft letter suggesting the 14th Amendment could scrap the debt ceiling altogether, despite concerns it could trigger a constitutional crisis.
“Republicans have made it clear that they are prepared to hold our entire economy hostage unless you accede to their demands to reduce the deficit on the backs of working families. That is simply unacceptable,” the letter said, according to multiple reports. "Using this authority would allow the United States to continue to pay its bills on time, without delay, preventing a global economic catastrophe.”
Signatories of the letter so far include Sens. Tina Smith (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Edward Markey (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), per the reports
Biden previously kept the use of the 14th Amendment on the table, but cautioned it would likely "be litigated and in the meantime, without an extension, it’d still end up in the same place." Biden has also repeatedly underscored that default is "not an option."
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https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/senate/democrats-pressure-biden-14th-amendment-debt-ceiling
