THE DEBT LIMIT MUST BE RAISED OR ELIMINATED
Jump to today’s scripts:
BACKGROUND
When Congress reconvenes, the Senate has just two weeks, and the House one, to tackle voting rights, budget reconciliation, and the debt ceiling and prevent a government shutdown.
Unless the debt limit is raised, the government will be unable to pay its debts, endangering programs Americans need and causing a global economic meltdown when it defaults.
Raising the debt limit doesn’t authorize more spending; it merely allows payment for what Congress already authorized.
Congress also faces a September 30 deadline to fund government operations. Without a continuing resolution to keep funding at the present level, the government will shut down.
McConnell’s threatening to oppose any debt limit increase without cuts to Medicare and Social Security and also the continuing resolution.
Democrats must call McConnell’s bluff.
Repealing the debt ceiling is the best option, since it arguably violates the Fourteenth Amendment, prohibiting any default on Treasury’s obligations.
Or Democrats can either suspend the debt ceiling for another 4 years or fold a short-term suspension into the stop-gap spending bill.
Filibuster reform is their ace-in-the-hole. If McConnell denies them 60 votes, wavering Democrats will have to ditch the filibuster to prevent a catastrophic government default.
Tell your MoCs the filibuster must go.
1. Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Forcing Congress to periodically raise the debt limit serves no purpose, since Congress clearly intends funds to be spent to carry out the legislation it passes. I am asking you to repeal this flawed policy. To prevent a catastrophic government default and possibly another government shutdown requires confronting the Senate filibuster. So, please keep pushing President Biden to use his bully pulpit to convince wavering Democrats that the filibuster must go.
SEN. WYDEN: Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Forcing Congress to periodically raise the debt limit serves no purpose, since Congress clearly intends funds to be spent to carry out the legislation it passes. I am asking you to repeal this flawed policy. To prevent a catastrophic government default and possibly another government shutdown requires confronting the Senate filibuster. So, please keep pushing President Biden to use his bully pulpit to convince wavering Democrats that the filibuster must go.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
Forcing Congress to periodically raise the debt limit serves no purpose, since Congress clearly intends funds to be spent to carry out the legislation it passes. I am asking you to commit to vote for either the repeal or suspension of the debt limit and for the continuing resolution necessary to keep the government operating past September 30.
2. Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Forcing Congress to periodically raise the debt limit serves no purpose, since Congress clearly intends funds to be spent to carry out the legislation it passes. I am asking you to co-sponsor HR.1041, which would repeal this flawed policy. To prevent a catastrophic government default and possibly another government shutdown requires confronting the Senate filibuster. So, please keep pushing President Biden to use his bully pulpit to convince wavering Democrats that the filibuster must go.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Forcing Congress to periodically raise the debt limit serves no purpose, since Congress clearly intends funds to be spent to carry out the legislation it passes. I am asking you to co-sponsor HR.1041, which would repeal this flawed policy and to vote for the continuing resolution needed to prevent another government shutdown.
Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Forcing Congress to periodically raise the debt limit serves no purpose, since Congress clearly intends funds to be spent to carry out the legislation it passes. I am asking you to co-sponsor HR.1041, which would repeal this flawed policy. To prevent a catastrophic government default and possibly another government shutdown requires confronting the Senate filibuster. So, please keep pushing President Biden to use his bully pulpit to convince wavering Democrats that the filibuster must go.
Script for Peter DeFazio (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Forcing Congress to periodically raise the debt limit serves no purpose, since Congress clearly intends funds to be spent to carry out the legislation it passes. I am asking you to co-sponsor HR.1041, which would repeal this flawed policy. To prevent a catastrophic government default and possibly another government shutdown requires confronting the Senate filibuster. So, please keep pushing President Biden to use his bully pulpit to convince wavering Democrats that the filibuster must go.
Script for Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Forcing Congress to periodically raise the debt limit serves no purpose, since Congress clearly intends funds to be spent to carry out the legislation it passes. I am asking you to co-sponsor HR.1041, which would repeal this flawed policy. To prevent a catastrophic government default and possibly another government shutdown requires confronting the Senate filibuster. So, please keep pushing President Biden to use his bully pulpit to convince wavering Democrats that the filibuster must go.
3. Take Action
During the recess, you can attend a town hall, call, email, or write to your MoC, reminding him/her that Congress is running out of time to pass voting rights legislation and must do the following:
Publicly and consistently call for modification or elimination of the filibuster, without which voting rights legislation will never be enacted
Convince President Biden to use his bully pulpit to demand filibuster reform and passage of voting rights legislation
(if MoC is a Senator): Demand your senator pressure his colleagues, like Coons and Carper from Delaware, Manchin from West Virginia, and Sinema from Arizona, and other wavering Democrats, to choose democracy over the Jim Crow filibuster.
Further Reading:
The debt Ceiling: A broken mechanism
For Congress, September Will Be the Cruelest Month
The Worst Sequel of 2021: “Debt Ceiling Zombies Attack!”
McConnell’s reckless new threat makes a strong case for ending the filibuster
Democrats’ Dare on Debt Sets Up High-Stakes Shutdown Fight
Like children playing with matches, GOP again toys with U.S. debt ceiling
Another potential government shutdown looms as the fiscal year starts to draw to a close
On the debt ceiling, Democrats must do the right thing if the GOP won’t
