John,

With our nation's economy being pushed to the brink by House Republicans, it is time to do away with the debt ceiling, a relic of the past that restricts America’s ability to fulfill its financial obligations.

The 14th Amendment to the Constitution unambiguously states that "the validity of the public debt of the United States... shall not be questioned." This clarity of intent is both an affirmation of our country's commitment to meet its financial obligations and a strong deterrent against making the debt ceiling a political battleground.

Yet, we find ourselves once again grappling with the potential of a debt ceiling crisis.

This political showdown, driven by radical Republican demands for severe cuts to crucial programs in return for acknowledging and honoring debts that the U.S. has legally incurred is not only constitutionally contentious but also fiscally irresponsible.

A default on the national debt has implications far beyond our borders; it would trigger a massive financial disaster. The reverberations of such a default would reach every corner of the globe, undermining our economic stability, and eroding trust in the American economic system.

Tell President Biden to leverage his constitutional authority to ensure that our nation's debts are honored. Stop negotiating. Invoke the 14th Amendment and ignore the debt ceiling.

The debt ceiling was raised without drama or dire political threats three times under President Trump and seven times under President Bush. On top of that, the Trump administration added a staggering $7.8 trillion to the nation's debt -- more than any other president before him. The precedence for raising the debt ceiling without political showmanship is clear.

In the face of previous debt ceiling crises, legal scholars and former elected officials alike have argued for invoking the 14th Amendment to ensure the payment of the national debt. In fact, former President Clinton suggested using it in 2011, when Tea Party Republicans were having the same fight with President Obama that the MAGA extremists are having with President Biden today.

“I think the Constitution is clear and I think this idea that the Congress gets to vote twice on whether to pay for [expenditures] it has appropriated is crazy.” - President Bill Clinton

While President Barack Obama acknowledged its potential validity during the 2011 debt ceiling standoff, he ultimately did not invoke the amendment.

But, now, over a decade later as we have the same battle, it is clear that we shouldn’t have to continually endure the uncertainty and potential consequences brought about by the debt ceiling.

So, in the face of opposition from House Republicans, tell President Biden to ignore the debt ceiling and invoke the 14th Amendment to pay the national debt now.

Let’s keep pushing for a constitutional solution to prevent potentially catastrophic outcomes from ever happening.

- Amanda

Amanda Ford, Director
Democracy for America
Advocacy Fund