Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Sam Needs to Pay Up and Pay Up Quickly

   Perhaps you all don't need me today, after all. 'Tis true the day was wearing on with me becoming concerned that the credit-rating agencies warnings might go unheeded, and our debt ceiling might not be raised in a timely fashion.
   See, I do believe in raising the debt ceiling. I believe in raising the ceiling because I believe we should pay our bills. The vote for raising the ceiling is not a vote to increase our spending beyond current levels. What we've spent, we've spent. The vote is to increase the debt ceiling simply to pay for what already been spent.
   If we are to pay our bills, we must raise the debt ceiling. Don't even hesitate. Call both houses of Congress together tomorrow and pass the bill.
  Word comes, though, that meetings are close at hand to bring about just that, passage of a debt ceiling bill in a few coming days. (Yes, I'd urge them to wait no longer than tomorrow, but if they get it done within a reasonable number of days, perhaps that is suffice.)
   Now, don't mess with the turkey on Thanksgiving eve. Don't try to inject anything to do with the Affordable Care Act this close to the deadline (Oct. 17). We cannot risk falling into more bickering this close to that deadline. Perhaps more importantly, if we are talking about bills that are already due, I don't care if they are for Obamacare or what they are for, pay them.
   One more thought. It occurs to me that while the debt ceiling is to pay bills already rung up, Congress can fashion a bill to say whatever they want. If they want language in a debt ceiling bill that not only addresses money already spent, but money yet to be spent, they can write it that way. Don't do it now, because you haven't time, but if you want to put budgetary restrictions in the same bill as the one authorizing payment for bills already incurred, go for it.
   Next time.


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