Sunday, October 13, 2013

Decreasing the US Debt Limit

 The idea of raising the debt ceiling is like give someone with a gambling addiction money the only thing that they are going to do with it is use it up till it's gone again. I want to give congress back the full power of the purse as stated in:

Article. I.
Section. 7.
All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.
Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States: If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.
Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill. 

as you have just read all bills for raising the revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives. In 1798 and for approximately 130 years after, Congress had to act each and every time before the US Department of the Treasury could borrow money, meaning that Congress would have to approve each individual Treasury auction of bonds, bills, or notes. Which I think was made that way to keep this from happening, but since World War I, Congress has allowed the Treasury the ability to manage the federal debt in an "efficient and cost-effective" manner. We can see where that has got us I will work to bring the practice of Congress approving each and every Treasury auction.