Democrats May Invoke Constitution to Work Around Debt Ceiling to Spend More of Your Money

Is the debt ceiling Constitutional? I haven't found anything in the Constitution that puts limits on how much the federal government can go into debt. Despite many political promises, there has never been a balanced budget amendment passed.

With a huge debate looming in July as to whether or not to raise the debt ceiling, it appears the Obama administration may invoke the Constitution to bypass Republicans who are fighting against raising the debt ceiling.

Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner told reporters that the Constitution's language could support the president's raising the limit without congressional approval.

'The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for the payments of pension and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion' -- this is the important thing -- 'shall not be questioned,' " Geithner read during a discussion hosted by Politico in May.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and others on Capitol Hill reportedly acknowledged that the idea is percolating, and had been presented to the president.

"It's certainly worth exploring. I think it needs a little more exploration and study," he said during a conference call with reporters held Friday.

As Geithner makes the case there is nothing Constitutional about a debt ceiling, he seems to think he can pay the bills of the federal government to avoid default without the approval of Congress, which is of course not Constitutional since the Constitution clearly establishes that Congress is in charge of the purse strings. For Geithner to attempt to invoke the Constitution to avoid the debt ceiling and then proceed spending without Congressional approval is just laughable.

Article One Section Eight states the 18 enumerated powers. The first of these of course is:

The Congress shall have power To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defence and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States.

Therefore if Obama and Geithner wants to play this game, the Republicans need to be quick to battle back and defund all the unconstitutional economy killing bureaucracies Democrats advocate for like the Environmental Protection Agency, which operates with no Constitutional authority. Of course while you are at it defund the thugs at the USDA, the Department of Education, HUD, FEMA, and a whole list of others. Then of course send notice to Geithner that he is to pay the debt before the federal government defaults with the money that was once budgeted to these bureaucracies.

That my friend is quite Constitutional.