Wednesday, October 9, 2013

How the US Government Might Prioritize Bills if the Debt Ceiling Isn't Raised

If the debt ceiling isn't raised for the US government, it doesn't mean the government won't be able to pay some bills. The USG has a regular stream of income that comes in from tax payments. WSJ has taken a look at incoming government revenue and speculated on which bills might be paid:


3 comments:

  1. So really the government shutdown hasn't happened yet. They'll pass an increase (unless something crazy happens) because nobody will want to face the howling.

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  2. So WSJ would fund food stamps and unemployment before federal salaries and veterans benefits? Huh. Telling.

    Also, how in the hell do they not have money for IRS refunds?

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    Replies
    1. I'm not sure these are the WSJ's preferences (though they might be), but they do seem like a reasonable approximation of the path of least political resistance. Refunds and federal salaries would be deferred (the latter with interest most likely).

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