Sanders: Obama should resolve debt crisis by invoking 14th Amendment
by Press Release | July 31, 2011
Sanders Statement on the Crisis of Imminent Default
Editor's note: Since this press release was issued, the Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. John Boehner plans have both been rejected. There is still no deal in place, though a vote in the Senate on a new compromise plan forged by Sen. Mitch McDonnell and Vice President Joe Biden is scheduled at 1 p.m. Sunday.
WASHINGTON, July 29 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today as Congress faced an Aug. 2 deadline for raising the debt limit:
"Vermonters are deeply concerned about the possibility of the United States defaulting on its debt for the first time in our nation's history. My office has received hundreds of calls about this.
"Vermonters want to continue receiving their Social Security checks and payments for Medicare and Medicaid services. They also want our veterans to continue to receive the benefits they have earned, and they want our soldiers on the battlefield to get paid.
"Because of Republican Tea Party intransigence, the options that are currently before Congress run the gamut from bad to worse.
"A default would be a disaster for the American people and for the future of our economy. It would mean that people who receive federal benefits or payments might not get what they are entitled to receive.
"Republican House Speaker John Boehner's proposal would likewise be extremely harmful because of the very significant, immediate cuts in programs that working families desperately need – especially in the midst of this terrible recession. The Boehner proposal, for obvious political reasons, also would continue the debt-ceiling circus for at least another six months, continuing to paralyze the ability of Congress to address the serious economic problems we face.
"The proposal by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is somewhat less onerous, but also would impose significant cuts in many important programs for working families. Importantly, because of Republican desire to defend the interests of the wealthy and powerful, neither proposal asks the wealthy or large corporations to contribute one nickel toward deficit reduction.
"That's where we are and it surely is a sad state of affairs.
"Given these dismal options, it appears that the least damaging approach might just be (as former President Bill Clinton has suggested) for President Obama to rely upon the 14th Amendment, which says the debts of the United States 'shall not be questioned.' The president is responsible under the Constitution for protecting and defending the nation and the general welfare of its citizens. I think that is just what he should do if he is left with no other way to protect the full faith and credit of the United States. What makes this preferable is that we would prevent default while also preventing the devastating cuts proposed under the other options."
Sanders Statement on the Crisis of Imminent Default
Editor's note: Since this press release was issued, the Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. John Boehner plans have both been rejected. There is still no deal in place, though a vote in the Senate on a new compromise plan forged by Sen. Mitch McDonnell and Vice President Joe Biden is scheduled at 1 p.m. Sunday.
WASHINGTON, July 29 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today as Congress faced an Aug. 2 deadline for raising the debt limit:
"Vermonters are deeply concerned about the possibility of the United States defaulting on its debt for the first time in our nation's history. My office has received hundreds of calls about this.
"Vermonters want to continue receiving their Social Security checks and payments for Medicare and Medicaid services. They also want our veterans to continue to receive the benefits they have earned, and they want our soldiers on the battlefield to get paid.
"Because of Republican Tea Party intransigence, the options that are currently before Congress run the gamut from bad to worse.
"A default would be a disaster for the American people and for the future of our economy. It would mean that people who receive federal benefits or payments might not get what they are entitled to receive.
"Republican House Speaker John Boehner's proposal would likewise be extremely harmful because of the very significant, immediate cuts in programs that working families desperately need – especially in the midst of this terrible recession. The Boehner proposal, for obvious political reasons, also would continue the debt-ceiling circus for at least another six months, continuing to paralyze the ability of Congress to address the serious economic problems we face.
"The proposal by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is somewhat less onerous, but also would impose significant cuts in many important programs for working families. Importantly, because of Republican desire to defend the interests of the wealthy and powerful, neither proposal asks the wealthy or large corporations to contribute one nickel toward deficit reduction.
"That's where we are and it surely is a sad state of affairs.
"Given these dismal options, it appears that the least damaging approach might just be (as former President Bill Clinton has suggested) for President Obama to rely upon the 14th Amendment, which says the debts of the United States 'shall not be questioned.' The president is responsible under the Constitution for protecting and defending the nation and the general welfare of its citizens. I think that is just what he should do if he is left with no other way to protect the full faith and credit of the United States. What makes this preferable is that we would prevent default while also preventing the devastating cuts proposed under the other options."
by Press
Release | July 31, 2011
Release | July 31, 2011
Sanders
Statement on the Crisis of Imminent Default
Statement on the Crisis of Imminent Default
Editor’s
note: Since this press release was issued, the Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. John
Boehner plans have both been rejected. There is still no deal in place, though
a vote in the Senate on a new compromise plan forged by Sen. Mitch McDonnell
and Vice President Joe Biden is scheduled at 1 p.m. Sunday.
note: Since this press release was issued, the Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. John
Boehner plans have both been rejected. There is still no deal in place, though
a vote in the Senate on a new compromise plan forged by Sen. Mitch McDonnell
and Vice President Joe Biden is scheduled at 1 p.m. Sunday.
WASHINGTON,
July 29 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today as
Congress faced an Aug. 2 deadline for raising the debt limit:
July 29 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today as
Congress faced an Aug. 2 deadline for raising the debt limit:
“Vermonters
are deeply concerned about the possibility of the United States defaulting on
its debt for the first time in our nation’s history. My office has received
hundreds of calls about this.
are deeply concerned about the possibility of the United States defaulting on
its debt for the first time in our nation’s history. My office has received
hundreds of calls about this.
“Vermonters
want to continue receiving their Social Security checks and payments for
Medicare and Medicaid services. They also want our veterans to continue to
receive the benefits they have earned, and they want our soldiers on the
battlefield to get paid.
want to continue receiving their Social Security checks and payments for
Medicare and Medicaid services. They also want our veterans to continue to
receive the benefits they have earned, and they want our soldiers on the
battlefield to get paid.
“Because of
Republican Tea Party intransigence, the options that are currently before
Congress run the gamut from bad to worse.
Republican Tea Party intransigence, the options that are currently before
Congress run the gamut from bad to worse.
“A default
would be a disaster for the American people and for the future of our economy.
It would mean that people who receive federal benefits or payments might not
get what they are entitled to receive.
would be a disaster for the American people and for the future of our economy.
It would mean that people who receive federal benefits or payments might not
get what they are entitled to receive.
“Republican
House Speaker John Boehner’s proposal would likewise be extremely harmful
because of the very significant, immediate cuts in programs that working
families desperately need – especially in the midst of this terrible recession.
The Boehner proposal, for obvious political reasons, also would continue the
debt-ceiling circus for at least another six months, continuing to paralyze the
ability of Congress to address the serious economic problems we face.
House Speaker John Boehner’s proposal would likewise be extremely harmful
because of the very significant, immediate cuts in programs that working
families desperately need – especially in the midst of this terrible recession.
The Boehner proposal, for obvious political reasons, also would continue the
debt-ceiling circus for at least another six months, continuing to paralyze the
ability of Congress to address the serious economic problems we face.
“The
proposal by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is somewhat less onerous, but
also would impose significant cuts in many important programs for working
families. Importantly, because of Republican desire to defend the interests of
the wealthy and powerful, neither proposal asks the wealthy or large
corporations to contribute one nickel toward deficit reduction.
proposal by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is somewhat less onerous, but
also would impose significant cuts in many important programs for working
families. Importantly, because of Republican desire to defend the interests of
the wealthy and powerful, neither proposal asks the wealthy or large
corporations to contribute one nickel toward deficit reduction.
“That’s
where we are and it surely is a sad state of affairs.
where we are and it surely is a sad state of affairs.
“Given
these dismal options, it appears that the least damaging approach might just be
(as former President Bill Clinton has suggested) for President Obama to rely
upon the 14th Amendment, which says the debts of the United States ‘shall not
be questioned.’ The president is responsible under the Constitution for
protecting and defending the nation and the general welfare of its citizens. I
think that is just what he should do if he is left with no other way to protect
the full faith and credit of the United States. What makes this preferable is
that we would prevent default while also preventing the devastating cuts
proposed under the other options.”
these dismal options, it appears that the least damaging approach might just be
(as former President Bill Clinton has suggested) for President Obama to rely
upon the 14th Amendment, which says the debts of the United States ‘shall not
be questioned.’ The president is responsible under the Constitution for
protecting and defending the nation and the general welfare of its citizens. I
think that is just what he should do if he is left with no other way to protect
the full faith and credit of the United States. What makes this preferable is
that we would prevent default while also preventing the devastating cuts
proposed under the other options.”
by Press Release | July 31, 2011 Sanders Statement on the Crisis of Imminent Default
Editor’s note: Since this press release was issued, the Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. John Boehner plans have both been rejected. There is still no deal in place, though a vote in the Senate on a new compromise plan forged by Sen. Mitch McDonnell and Vice President Joe Biden is scheduled at 1 p.m. Sunday.
WASHINGTON, July 29 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today as Congress faced an Aug. 2 deadline for raising the debt limit:
“Vermonters are deeply concerned about the possibility of the United States defaulting on its debt for the first time in our nation’s history. My office has received hundreds of calls about this.
“Vermonters want to continue receiving their Social Security checks and payments for Medicare and Medicaid services. They also want our veterans to continue to receive the benefits they have earned, and they want our soldiers on the battlefield to get paid.
“Because of Republican Tea Party intransigence, the options that are currently before Congress run the gamut from bad to worse.
“A default would be a disaster for the American people and for the future of our economy. It would mean that people who receive federal benefits or payments might not get what they are entitled to receive.
“Republican House Speaker John Boehner’s proposal would likewise be extremely harmful because of the very significant, immediate cuts in programs that working families desperately need – especially in the midst of this terrible recession. The Boehner proposal, for obvious political reasons, also would continue the debt-ceiling circus for at least another six months, continuing to paralyze the ability of Congress to address the serious economic problems we face.
“The proposal by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is somewhat less onerous, but also would impose significant cuts in many important programs for working families. Importantly, because of Republican desire to defend the interests of the wealthy and powerful, neither proposal asks the wealthy or large corporations to contribute one nickel toward deficit reduction.
“That’s where we are and it surely is a sad state of affairs.
“Given these dismal options, it appears that the least damaging approach might just be (as former President Bill Clinton has suggested) for President Obama to rely upon the 14th Amendment, which says the debts of the United States ‘shall not be questioned.’ The president is responsible under the Constitution for protecting and defending the nation and the general welfare of its citizens. I think that is just what he should do if he is left with no other way to protect the full faith and credit of the United States. What makes this preferable is that we would prevent default while also preventing the devastating cuts proposed under the other options.”
