Senate Democrats Push Obama to Stay Firm in Budget Fight

[IDemo]

Source: Wall Street Journal

Senate Democratic leaders Friday put new pressure on President Barack Obama to hang tough in the upcoming fight with Republicans over raising the federal debt limit – even if it means circumventing Congress to raise the limit unilaterally.

The letter, signed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) and three other top leaders, is an opening salvo in a fiscal debate likely to dominate Capitol Hill as soon as Mr. Obama is sworn in for his second term.

Faced with the need to increase the $16.4 trillion debt ceiling as early as next month, House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) has said Republicans will vote to do so only if Congress also approves spending cuts of equivalent amounts. Mr. Obama has said he will not negotiate to win votes for a debt limit increases, which he said amounts to paying bills that the government has already incurred.

Read more: http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2013/01/11/senate-democrats-push-obama-to-stay-firm-in-budget-fight/

[samsingh]

1. as he should

we hope he does

[alp227]

2. NYT article

Democrats Urge Obama to Take 'Any Lawful Steps' to Avoid Default

[John2]

3. The Senate

is part of Congress, so President Obama would not be circumventing the Constitution because he has approval of the Senate. That is why Nancy Pelosi would be correct if he takes the Fourth Amendment avenue. The only way the House can bring action against the President would need approval from the Senate. So when all is said and done, the House would be at a dead end.