Freddy on January 23, 2013 at 2:08 PM

Can we get rid of social security tomorrow? If not, then you are just as guilty of arguing that the constitution has no meaning.

While the tax to collect social security money is constitutional, the payment of money to individuals for it has never even been brought to the Supreme Court.

LAWSUITS must be filed against this UNCONSTITUTIONAL act IMMEDIATLY!

Somehow, even talk radio has decided that it is now OK to simply suspend the US Constitution.

How long will we wait for the 2nd ammendment to be ‘suspended’?

In legislation filed yesterday, the House GOP Leadership made an important twist in their plan to pass a short-term increase in the debt ceiling. Rather than increase the debt ceiling by a few hundred billion dollars, buying them time for further talks on the budget, they have opted to “suspend” the debt ceiling. Its a blatant abdication of their constitutional authority. It’s an ominous sign of the talks to come.

Article 1 of the US Constitution gives Congress the exclusive authority to borrow money to fund the government. Up until World War I, Congress would approve every bond issuance. The borrowing demands of the war made this impractical, so Congress authorized a “debt ceiling,” where the government could freely borrow up to a statutory limit and then go back to Congress to approve additional borrowing. Think of it as giving your teenager a pre-paid debit card.

With this measure, the government had more flexibility to manage its affairs while preserving the Constitutional principle that Congress controlled the purse strings.

“Suspending” the debt ceiling until May upends this principle. Upon enactment, the government’s borrowing authority would be unlimited until May. Presumably, the government could borrow trillions in this window, providing either the markets or the Fed would meet the new supply of debt.

Worse, however, is that the GOP move establishes a very slippery precedent. The left has been agitating to simply eliminate the idea of a debt ceiling entirely. For all its flaws, the ceiling at least guarantees we will have some debate about government spending. The left finds this annoying. Unfortunately, the GOP plan to “suspend” the ceiling provides at least partial support to this argument. If we can “suspend” it for three months, why not a year? Once you’ve surrendered the constitutional principle behind the ceiling where and how can you draw a line?

Despite their past history of punting on difficult fiscal issues, I was willing to give the House GOP a skeptical benefit of the doubt on their plan for a short-term lift in the ceiling. The deficit debate has three components, ie. debt ceiling, sequestration, and budget expiration, which happen close to each other, but not simultaneously. It made some strategic sense to weave them together into a single debate.

I assumed, however, that this would entail an increase in the debt ceiling of a few hundred billion dollars, to provide the time to negotiate a longer-term deal. I did not anticipate it would feature the House GOP surrendering its constitutional obligations.

When the GOP took control of the House, they vowed that every piece of legislation would contain specific language citing the constitutional authority for the proposed law. It would be interesting to see their interpretation of the constitutional authority to suspend the document.

If I recall MelonCollie is more conservative than your general run of the mill worthless piece of crap loser, Paul Ryan as an example, GOP person… Maybe I am thinking someone else…

I for one am willing to be happy with frequent debt ceiling fights over the next 4 years, rather than the punt the ball to after the next presidential election. I would prefer a hundred billion at a time increases…

astonerii on January 23, 2013 at 1:36 PM

It’s a lame concern troll schtick, but I agree with your second point.

You and your liberal ilk should finally be forced to pass a budget and be on record for the utter destruction you’ve waged on our children’s futures. For all your failed Keynesian fantasies, you’ve saddled us with the worst recovery since the Great Depression and another 6 trillion in debt.

Chuck Schick on January 23, 2013 at 1:33 PM

If I recall MelonCollie is more conservative than your general run of the mill worthless piece of crap loser, Paul Ryan as an example, GOP person… Maybe I am thinking someone else…

I for one am willing to be happy with frequent debt ceiling fights over the next 4 years, rather than the punt the ball to after the next presidential election. I would prefer a hundred billion at a time increases…

Try not being a liberal and think for ten seconds. Will not the Democrats use any debt-ceiling hike as an excuse to spend more?

The GOP’s ‘solution’ is like a credit card company dealing with someone who’s badly over the limit and overdue on paying a raise in their credit limit.

And thank you for pointing out the bloody obvious.

MelonCollie on January 23, 2013 at 1:17 PM

You and your liberal ilk should finally be forced to pass a budget and be on record for the utter destruction you’ve waged on our children’s futures. For all your failed Keynesian fantasies, you’ve saddled us with the worst recovery since the Great Depression and another 6 trillion in debt.

the Senate Democratic majority appears headed toward reestablishing the normal budget process.

Whoopee! Thank god, because that’s worked so well before right?

Deck chairs, Titanic, etc….

So your answer is trillion dollar deficits forever?

You know you’re the one who’s going to be paying it back, right?

Chuck Schick on January 23, 2013 at 1:11 PM

Try not being a liberal and think for ten seconds. Will not the Democrats use any debt-ceiling hike as an excuse to spend more?

The GOP’s ‘solution’ is like a credit card company dealing with someone who’s badly over the limit and overdue on paying a raise in their credit limit.

And thank you for pointing out the bloody obvious.