As the Debt Ceiling Fight heats up in the House, House Democrats are eyeing an End-Around Strategy, to avoid a Federal Default later in the year, around July, 2023. Democratic Leaders have already begun talks about tapping a Procedural Tool, known as a Discharge Petition, to force a Debt-Limit Hike to the Floor, without the accompanying Spending Cuts. “We’ve had some preliminary conversations about that, and we’ll do what we have to do to prevent economic catastrophe,” said a Member of Democratic Leadership.
The timing is Crucial, and Complicated, since the Archaic Rules governing Discharge Petitions dictate they can be considered only on certain days of the month, and only after the underlying Legislation has sat in Committee for at least 30 Legislative days. Those eyeing that Calendar expect they’ll have to launch the Process sometime in March, to avoid a later Default, if No Agreement is reached.
The Discharge Petition, an obscure Mechanism empowering 218 Lawmakers to pass Bills the Speaker Refuses to consider, is almost never successful. But in 2023 it requires Five Members of the Ruling Party to defy their own Leadership. Already, some moderate Republicans are signaling a willingness to join Democrats to force a Debt-Limit Vote, if the Speaker pressured by his Right flank, Refuses to do so.
“A discharge petition would only take myself and four of my colleagues on the GOP side to sign with Democrats, if that’s necessary,” Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA, 1st District), a Co-Chairman of the Bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus said.
The Debate launches in earnest this week, with a High-Stakes meeting Today, between President Joe Biden (D) and Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA, 20th District) at the White House.
The President has insisted he won’t Negotiate on the Debt Limit, noting that raising it merely allows the Government to make good on Past Obligations. And his House allies are backing him up, particularly when it comes to their Defense of the Major Entitlement programs.
“They have said there are cuts they want to make to Social Security and Medicare,” said Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI, 1st District). “Democrats will never agree to that.”
Heading into the Meeting, McCarthy is insisting Republicans are focused elsewhere: “We take Social Security and Medicare off the table,” he said Sunday, but is also amplifying Demands for Steep Cuts to Unspecified programs. “We cannot continue just to spend more money and leverage the debt of the future of America,” he said. “We’ve got to get to a balanced budget.”
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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