By: Barb Zakszewski
I bet you never thought you would see these three words together. And yet… Our nation finds itself in familiar territory: A debt ceiling/budget standoff… Stop me if you’ve heard this one.
Republicans have done their duty, they approved an increase in the debt ceiling, including some moderate spending cuts to be considered. NO ONE is holding the debt ceiling, the budget or the Nation hostage with threats of default. And it is absolutely appalling that Chuck Schumer would threaten that social security and Medicare payments would be the first things affected. How dare they exercise these scare tactics! I say, cut the payroll and benefits of the entire Congress, along with ALL staff, and the White House first. This debt crisis would be solved in a day.
After all that, during an after-meeting press conference that President Biden stumbled and mumbled through and which the train of thought left Biden at the station, Biden told the media that instead of waiting for more negotiations and meetings, he may consider invoking the 14th Amendment, specifically, Section 4, to put an end to this debt ceiling impasse. The fact that Biden was even aware there is a constitution was stunning to hear, but also note how quickly the extreme Marxist Democrats hide behind the constitution when it suits their needs.
But what is the 14th Amendment, specifically, Section 4? The 14th Amendment, ratified on July 9, 1868, in the aftermath of the War between the States, and part of the Reconstruction period was meant to apply only to freed slaves and blacks. It basically applied the Constitution to blacks. Surprisingly, this Amendment never went through the actual constitutional ratification process; yet remains one of the most influential amendments. Section 4, the one Biden wants to invoke to resolve this debt ceiling impasse, reads as follows: “The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of {soldier} pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned”. Recall above the purpose of the 14th Amendment and the curious use of the word insurrection to describe the War between the States. Some have restated Section 4 language to read, roughly: “Any money the US owes for paying soldier pensions for help to stop a revolt shall not be questioned”. Many budget experts have stated they do not believe this section applies to the current debt ceiling debate.
Biden and the treasury secretary saying limiting the debt ceiling is unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment is really stretching the constitution because of the provision in Article I, sections 7 and 8, that no money be drawn from the treasury except through legal appropriations by the House of Representatives.
The oppressive nature of a $32 trillion debt that still won’t be paid when our great-grandchildren shuffle off this earth is immoral and a milestone around the neck of our Nation. This does not have to be complicated. Democrats need to review and be serious about spending cuts and the debt ceiling then raise the debt ceiling so our nation does not default on our debt. Our nation has to get serious about these spending cuts and Congress MUST stop this last minute, Chicken Little act they put our Nation through every year.