House Democratic Caucus Supports the 14th Amendment

[jtown1123]

Huffington Post
House Democratic Leaders To Obama: Use The 14th Amendment
Jennifer Bendery

WASHINGTON -- House Democratic leaders emerged from a Wednesday Caucus meeting with a message for President Barack Obama: Invoke the Constitution to resolve the debt standoff.

If Congress can't reach a deal on a long-term debt limit increase by August 2, Obama should "sign an executive order invoking the 14th Amendment," said Assistant Minority Leader James Cyburn (D-S.C.).

"I am convinced that whatever discussions about the legality of that can continue," Clyburn said. "But I believe that something like this will bring calm to the American people and will bring needed stability to our financial markets."

House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson (D-Conn.) acknowledged that Obama has previously expressed doubts about his legal authority to unilaterally raise the debt limit. But circumstances have changed, Larson said, and "we just want to let him know that his Caucus is prepared to stand behind him" if Congress fails to pass a long-term deal.

"We have to have a fail-safe mechanism," Larson said. "We believe that fail-safe mechanism is the 14th Amendment and the president of the United States."

the REST: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/27/house-democratic-leaders-urge-obama-to-use-14th-amendment_n_910878.html

[ZombieHorde]

1. But then how would cuts to social programs be justified?

:sarcasm:

[jtown1123]

2. They can't be.

[ZombieHorde]

3. I forgot the sarcasm thingy. I'll go put it in. nt

[jtown1123]

4. Oh I got it. No worries.

[indepat]

5. But invoking the 14th Amendment would not get the job done in re eviscerating

social security, Medicare, and Medicaid which is job #1 'cause Repugs insist BHO's tax cuts for the uber-wealthy be paid for and gutting the big 3 (surprise, surprise) appears to be the only manner agreeable to both parties (MIC funding surely can't take a hit at a time some estimates of the ultimate cost of the two wars will approximate $6 trillion). As a bonus, the sole purpose for the appointment a Cat-food Commission comprised of those particular members would have been met. Color me cynical, but this is the only conclusion this bunny draws from a reading of the tea leaves which have now been brewing for years. :patriot: