HUFF POST: …The provision at the heart of the constitutional debate, Section 4 of the 14th Amendment, states: “The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payments of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned.” Essentially, Democrats are arguing that since the “public debt” cannot be questioned, then the debt ceiling itself is unconstitutional.
A Pelosi aide said he hasn’t heard the Minority Leader endorse the constitutional option to any lawmakers. “But who knows,” said the aide. “Our official line is her energy is focused on getting a balanced deal.”
That “deal,” of course, remains nonexistent. Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) met with Obama for nearly two hours on Saturday afternoon, shortly after the House voted down Reid’s debt ceiling proposal. Reid took to the Senate floor afterward to knock Republicans for refusing to negotiate and said “the process has not been moved forward during this day.”.. (more)
EDITOR: A trial baloon? Many have observed that the Constitution does empower the president to increase the debt limit with Congress’ approval.
