Democrats are asking Biden to raise the debt ceiling without Congress

Senator Bernie Sanders and various Democratic representatives They called on US President Joe Biden this Thursday to use the powers granted to him by a constitutional amendment to raise the debt ceiling without going through congressional approval.

“Is the 14th Amendment the perfect solution? No, but using it would make it possible NOW continue to pay your bills on time and avoid economic disaster and devastating cuts to some of the most vulnerable people in the country,” Sanders said at a news conference.

This amendment establishes the validity public debt of the United Statesauthorized by law, will not be questioned, and the president could rely on it claiming that he has a constitutional duty to avoid non-payment.

The request to skip the usual tracks has so far been supported by 11 senators and comes at a time when Biden He intensified negotiations with congressional leaders to try to reach an agreement.

On the same Wednesday, the president was convinced that he would reach an agreement, but he canceled the trip he had intended Papua New Guinea and Australia after the G7 summit in Japan to return earlier Washington and continue negotiations.

“The president should use his power under the 14th amendment to protect our economy and credit of our country,” Sen. Ed Markey added to reporters, affecting a demand that Biden do “whatever it takes” to prevent Republicans from “pushing the economy off a cliff.”

The group said it would support him in the process: “We know this road is not over yet and that every president hesitates to take unknown paths, but we have his back. We stand with him against this type of unacceptable hostage-taking.” , he emphasized Legislator Jeff Merkley.

The United States has never defaulted on its national debt, but from time to time it considers the possibility because, unlike other countries, its executive branch can only issue debt up to a limit set by it Congresswho has the power to hang that roof as he sees fit.

The current mark of 31.4 billion was reached last January. Currently, Government is drawing money from its reserves to pay off the debts it has incurred, but the Ministry of Finance estimates that these reserves will be used up on June 1.

Republicans are trying to condition their increase on spending cuts, but Democrats argue that both factors are connected: “It would be just as disastrous to stop paying the debt as to approve the scandalous Republican proposal,” he warned. Sanders.