To the Editor:

“The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any state shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.” Section 4 of Amendment XIV to the U.S. Constitution.

Instead of going onto Australia, Biden has decided to return home after the G7 meeting in Japan to deal with the budget crisis. A wise move as Treasury Secretary Yellen has indicated the U.S. may run out of money on the first of June, or maybe sooner.
The budget passed by the Congress allows for the debt ceiling to be raised by $1.5 trillion to $34.4 trillion, and remain at $34.4 trillion, until March 2024. This is one portion of the budget that is a no-go for Biden and the democrats. The democrats have indicated they want an increase of $6.8 trillion.

Republicans want to push discretionary spending (this doesn’t include Social Security or Medicare) to 2022 levels and only increase it one percent a year for ten years. Biden wants to increase discretionary spending 9.4% plus add the one percent for ten years.
Republicans want to reduce the deficit over ten years by $4.8 trillion and Biden wants to reduce deficits by $2.8 trillion in that same period of time.

As talks, which Biden refused to hold until recently, breakdown, Biden, Yellen, and many democrats are pushing for the use of the 14th Amendment to allow the Treasury to borrow above the debt ceiling.

The 14th Amendment doesn’t say the U.S. should borrow more to pay its existing debts, but to pay from existing revenue. Currently the revenue the government takes in is much greater than its debts so this is doable. Only Congress has the power to raise the debt ceiling, not Biden. The Amendment also doesn’t say Congress must raise the limit to pay on current or future debt.

I hope all parties come together to create a budget that is fiscally responsible, will protect future generations and allow for the economy to sustainably grow.

Patti Walker
Fillmore, Ca.