House Republican, Scott Garrett explains what his colleagues need to get if they’re not going to force a credit default. “They may try to throw the kitchen sink at the debt limit, but I don’t think our conference will be amenable for settling for a collection of things after we’ve fought so hard. If it doesn’t have a full delay or defund of Obamacare, I know I and many others will not be able to support whatever the leadership proposes. If it’s just a repeal of the medical-device tax, or chained CPI, that won’t be enough.” (emphasis added)
Something big is required because they’ve “fought so hard.”
Scared yet?
I’m a little bit out of my territory here. But I wanted to address one point that comes up repeatedly as sane people consider the prospect of the United States government defaulting on its debt obligations. Is there no escape hatch? No in extremis lever the President can pull to protect the country and the whole global economy from such cataclysmic damage?
Answer: no. Explanation: after the jump.
You’ve seen Charlie Dent and Pete King out railing against the shutdown, blaming it on Republicans, calling for a no-strings-attached bill to reopen the federal government. Surely, they’re willing to sign the discharge petition that could force Speaker Boehner’s hand, right? Well, no.
On the other hand, Sen. Kirk says he’s willing to vote with Democrats to block a filibuster of a similar bill in the Senate.
