Bernie Sanders: Biden must 'exercise the 14th Amendment' to 'prevent an economic catastrophe'
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California) has agreed to raise the United States' debt ceiling, but only if President Joe Biden, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York) agree to severe budget cuts. Democratic leaders have maintained that the cuts McCarthy and other House Republicans have in mind are totally unreasonable.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, meanwhile, is urging Biden and McCarthy to work out some type of agreement soon, as the U.S. could begin to default on its debt obligations as soon as June 1. A default, Yellen and other economic voices are warning, will set off a severe economic crisis.
In an op-ed published by Fox News' website on May 24, progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) offers a scathing critique of the "draconian" budget that House Republicans have in mind — emphasizing that it would be terrible for the U.S. in many respects.
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House Republicans, according to Sanders, are proposing "deep and sweeping budget cuts that would push 790,000 Americans out of their jobs and push our economy toward a recession."
"Up to 21 million Americans could lose Medicaid, ripping away the healthcare they need; 80,000 jobs would be cut at the Department of Veterans Affairs alone, and millions of veterans would be forced to wait much longer for the care and benefits they need," the 81-year-old senator warns. "1.2 million women, infants and children would not receive the nutrition they need to stay healthy through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program."
Sanders adds that "640,000 families would lose access to rental assistance" and "2 million Americans would lose access to health care services through Community Health Centers."
The senator urges Biden to reject GOP proposals and play hardball by invoking the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment "to avoid a default."
READ MORE: Dem lawmakers roll out plan to circumvent McCarthy on the debt ceiling
"Using the 14th Amendment would allow the United States to continue to pay its bills on time and without delay, prevent an economic catastrophe, and prevent huge cuts to healthcare, education, childcare, affordable housing, nutrition assistance and the needs of our veterans," Sanders argues. "It must be exercised."
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Sen. Bernie Sanders' entire Fox News op-ed is available at this link.
