I respect people, like our illustrious Bobfr, who think the President can unilaterally raise the debt ceiling under the authority of Section 4, of the Fourteenth Amendment. But I think they are mistaken. In my opinion, Congress’ “power of the purse” under Article I, section 8, is not superseded by section 4 of the 14th Amendment. No where in the Constitution, directly or indirectly, is the power to pay U.S. debts given to the President of the United States. Section 4, of the 14th Amendment which is cited simply reads as follows:

“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.”

Those who urge the President to invoke this section of the 14th Amendment to raise the debt ceiling inadvertently fail to mention Section 5 of the 14th Amendment, which clearly spells out the branch of government that has the power to enforce the 14th Amendment. So, here is the text of Section 5, of the 14th Amendment:

” The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislations, the provisions of this article.”

In my humble opinion, selectively reading one section of the 14th Amendment and then trying to put pressure on the President to enforce just that section, when Section 5, clearly states that it’s the Congress which has the POWER to enforce ALL the four sections of the Amendment, is misguided. What we should be doing is put all the pressure on all members of Congress to abide by their Constitutional responsibility of paying “the public debt of the United States, authorized by law.”

I am sorry, but I don’t want President Obama to face the possibility of being impeached because he usurped the power that the Constitution explicitly gives Congress. And even if Congress may not take the route of impeachment, Congress could sue in Court to challenge the President’s unilateral action to raise the debt ceiling, thus creating more chaos.

I am sorry but these “Top Senate Democrats” are shucking their Constitutional responsibilities and putting all the burden on the President. If they were courageous and responsible,they would not have to write a letter to the President> Instead, they would immediately introduce legislation granting the President the power to raise the debt ceiling.