This idea was one of Peter Schiff’s big pledges if he were elected, but alas not.
But regardless of Schiff being a Senator, what actually would happen if 40 Senators did filibuster the next debt ceiling increase? And didn’t budge no matter what!
Would that effectively force a balanced budget immediately? Or are there ready made loopholes where the gov’t could continue to borrow? (Like Bernanke stepping in somehow?)
Yes, I know it’s not going to happen. The country is not that lucky. But just hypothetically, would this manuever be a backdoor balance budget amendment that a minority could impose?
Ah, to dream.
You only need 1 senator to filibuster; see, Strom Thurman
Well, one Senator can easily be overcome with parliamentary procedure. Like Jim Bunning’s attempt to block extending unemployment benefits back early this year. That lasted for less than a week.
But the 40 Senator filibuster can actually defeat legislation…so that’s the one I am wondering about?
@ OP
I think you are referring to the 60 vote majority needed to overcome a filibuster…
Anyway. Nothing would happen if the R’s filibustered the the debt ceiling increase. Senators who supported the filibuster would simply get selected pork right off the the taxpayer’s back end sent directly to their states (it’s called a backroom deal). The debt ceiling would be increased, and away we go to new levels of taxpayer debt, to be paid by the central bank since the taxpayers are broke.
Look, it’s all talk and political show. If the D’s were in the minority, they would threaten a filibuster. It’s designed to make it appear that there is a two party system with opposition. There is not. There is one party. The Big Government Party.
So put on your party hat and let’s have some fun, it’s all at taxpayer’s expense! War! Bailouts! Public Works! Federal Aid! Stabilization Programs! Money Printing! Benefits for Everyone Except the Taxpayer! So much fun to be a U.S. Senator!
Yup, I know all too well it won’t happen because of pork bribes. The Pentagon would probably be offering the most pork if there was any notion of Rs doing so.
But - just hypothetically. What if. Be it Ds in a Republican administration or Rs in a Democrat. What if 40 (or does it take 41?) Senators somehow gained the fortitude and refused to budge no matter what was offered and successfully filibustered the next debt ceiling increase?
Could those minority Senators force a balanced budget right then and there? In effect, bypassing any need for an actual balance budget amendment. Or are there loopholes?
(It would be such a joy to watch if it did, in fact, happen. Just to see all the panic of the various people and groups addicted to the gov’t teat (not to mention the media reaction) thinking they might be cut off.)
“But regardless of Schiff being a Senator, what actually would happen if 40 Senators did filibuster the next debt ceiling increase?”
Deforestation