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Debt Ceiling and Guns: Using Presidential Authority to the Fullest
UK Progressive ^ | January 13, 2013 | Secretary Robert Reich

Posted on 01/13/2013 10:47:44 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

Anyone who thinks congressional Republicans will roll over on the debt ceiling or gun control or other pending hot-button issues hasn’t been paying attention.

But the President can use certain tools that come with his office – responsibilities enshrined in the Constitution and in his capacity as the nation’s chief law-enforcer — to achieve some of his objectives.

On the debt ceiling, for example, he might pay the nation’s creditors regardless of any vote on the debt ceiling – based on the the Fourteenth Amendment’s explicit directive (in Section 4) that “the validity of the public debt of the United States … shall not be questioned.”

Or, rather than issue more debt, the President might use a loophole in a law (31 USC, Section 5112) allowing the Treasury to issue commemorative coins – minting a $1 trillion coin and then depositing it with the Fed.

Both gambits would almost certainly end up in the Supreme Court, but not before they’ve been used to pay the nation’s bills. (It’s doubtful any federal court, including the Supremes, would enjoin a President from protecting the full faith and credit of the United States).

Or consider guns. As Vice President Joe Biden said Wednesday, “there are executive orders, executive action that can be taken” that don’t require congressional approval.

The President probably needs new legislation to reinstate a ban on the sale of military-style assault weapons, stop the sale of high-capacity ammunition clips, and require background checks on all gun buyers.

But he has wide authority to use gun laws already on the books as the basis for regulations or executive orders strengthening gun enforcement....

(Excerpt) Read more at ukprogressive.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; Politics
KEYWORDS: banglist; biden; debtceiling; guncontrol; obama; secondamendment
Each passing year, the mask comes off a little more.
1 posted on 01/13/2013 10:47:51 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Section 4; 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 5; The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

Pretty obvious this was designed so the the USA would not have to pay the huge loans the south owed to the British, and that congress has the power to enforce this by legislation.
It is not some catch all that gives a president authority to borrow as much as he pleases without the approval by congress.
Freakin’ tin horn dictator.


2 posted on 01/13/2013 11:01:43 PM PST by DesertRhino (I was standing with a rifle, waiting for soviet paratroopers, but communists just ran for office.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

As to guns, last year, Obama gave billions to the moslem brotherhood in Egypt, including F-16s, M-1 tanks, and is working on getting them a few German attack subs.

Obama has attacked Christianity in every way he can.
He has filled the military with homos.
He has homos marrying in the national cathedral and at West Point in the Chapel.
He has decided he is fine with legalizing pot.
He committed obvious electorial fraud in several states.
He has allowed his justice department to ignore subpeonas from congress.
He has allowed his state dept to ignore subpeonas from congress.
He was caught on a live microphone promising the Russians that after the election he could do what they wanted.

He rules as a dictator, rapidly moving to consolidate a socialist revolution. And now he wants my guns?

FUBO


3 posted on 01/13/2013 11:10:25 PM PST by DesertRhino (I was standing with a rifle, waiting for soviet paratroopers, but communists just ran for office.)
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To: DesertRhino

yes, the president is not in charge of the purse strings and the 14th amendment has not empowered the executive branch to be able to pay for anything. ever. never has, never will.


4 posted on 01/13/2013 11:22:30 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (I can neither confirm or deny that; even if I could, I couldn't - it's classified.)
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To: DesertRhino

amen, FUBO, FUJB, FUMO


5 posted on 01/13/2013 11:24:45 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (I can neither confirm or deny that; even if I could, I couldn't - it's classified.)
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To: Secret Agent Man

Isn’t it kind of amazing? 14th amendment passes during reconstruction after the civil war. But only now has any president decided it means he can borrow all the money he wants without congressional approval.

Zippy big ears sees it differently than every other US president since President Johnson. And thats ANDREW Johnson, not Lyndon.


6 posted on 01/13/2013 11:49:30 PM PST by DesertRhino (I was standing with a rifle, waiting for soviet paratroopers, but communists just ran for office.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Section 5 of tbe 14th amendment reserves the Constitionanal right of the spending stricltly to to the Congress.

The President is not given supra authority to spend a dime.


7 posted on 01/14/2013 12:35:12 AM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously, you won't live through it anyway)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Interesting how Robert thinks that if the President plays hardball and wins some kind of 2nd Amendment “concession” out of the Republicans, that gun owners still won’t be incensed and tell all of Capital Hill to kiss their collective behinds. Does he honestly think that just because the RINOs sign on, we’ll all follow like meek little sheep?


8 posted on 01/14/2013 12:46:25 AM PST by TheWriterTX (Riding the Long-Wave Economic Contraction, Baby!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Next he will find a way to dissolve congress. Think it’s a coincidence that his comrades chose to run a constitutional lawyer on the ticket?


9 posted on 01/14/2013 1:15:13 AM PST by BuddhistConservative
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
(It’s doubtful any federal court, including the Supremes, would enjoin a President from protecting the full faith and credit of the United States).

I don't believe that clause gives the executive branch carte blanche.

10 posted on 01/14/2013 3:33:29 AM PST by SoFloFreeper
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
(It’s doubtful any federal court, including the Supremes, would enjoin a President from protecting the full faith and credit of the United States).

I don't believe that clause gives the executive branch carte blanche.

11 posted on 01/14/2013 3:34:34 AM PST by SoFloFreeper
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Question: are these people complete idiots, or are they merely pretending default is a possibility to scare the sheep?

Answer: Yes.


12 posted on 01/14/2013 4:17:50 AM PST by Tublecane
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To: Secret Agent Man

I don’t even know why they pretend like the 14th amendment says anything like what they apparently want it to say, except that the word “debt” is in it. Or maybe it’s just that I still haven’t gotten hold of the secret decoder rings they use to read the real Constitution.


13 posted on 01/14/2013 4:21:45 AM PST by Tublecane
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To: Tublecane

LMAO at the secret decoder rings.

It is evident that is what they are using to read the Constitution.


14 posted on 01/14/2013 5:44:45 AM PST by Venturer
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To: DesertRhino
He has decided he is fine with legalizing pot.

What's wrong with that?

15 posted on 01/14/2013 7:49:15 AM PST by JustSayNoToNannies ("The Lord has removed His judgments against you" - Zep. 3:15)
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To: Tublecane

remember “living document” means “i read what i want into it” for libtards.


16 posted on 01/14/2013 10:30:41 AM PST by Secret Agent Man (I can neither confirm or deny that; even if I could, I couldn't - it's classified.)
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