Biden should invoke 14th Amendment in debt fight

In 2016, Sen. Chuck Grassley and U.S. Senate leadership trampled on the U.S. Constitution. The Republicans refused to bring Merrick Garland's Supreme Court nomination before the Senate, even though they were required to do so. Here’s the text from Article II, Section two of the Constitution: “… [the president] shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint … Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States …” The senators brazenly rejected their sworn duty. It was an unprecedented, unethical, and unconstitutional move — and they got away with it.

With the current debt limit fight, President Joe Biden should be equally bold — but by insisting on following the Constitution, rather than betraying it. The 14th Amendment to the Constitution unambiguously forbids our leaders — including Congress — to ever refuse to pay our public debt. Ever. Period. To quote Section 4: “The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law … shall not be questioned.” In Constitution-speak, the phrase “shall not be questioned” is an ironclad order, not open for “negotiation.”

Biden should stand strong against House Republicans' illegal extortion. He should use his presidential law-enforcement power to simply eliminate the debt limit issue forever, so that we're in compliance with our Constitution. Then he and Congress can move on to fighting over a budget for the future — and not over paying the bills Congress racked up in the past.

Nic Arp

Iowa City

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