The BPC statement about what the future of America’s finances should be depressing to any reader of its report:
In addition to prioritization of payments, Treasury must also roll over roughly $500 billion in debt that matures in the February 15-March 15 period. Finally, BPC predicts that a debt limit increase of $1.1 trillion would be needed to fully fund the government through the end of 2013 and another $1 trillion through the end of 2014.
Where the analysis stumbles is over the ability of Treasury to issue IOUs, and whether that kind of obligation would be sufficient, to holders of U.S. debt, those who supply the government with goods and services, and funds that cover federal government worker retirement. Does an IOU put Treasury over the debt cap? That may depend on the strength of the agreements to bind Treasury to eventually make those payments. Certainly, most of the parties involved would believe that Congress and the president would quickly agree to some solution if faced with a financial disaster that has no precedent in recent history.
The BPC analysis has its foundation in the notion that Treasury has exhausted all options to fund the government and debt service. However, it may be able to offer nonbinding promises that are supported by the certainty that politicians, and the people who elect them, will only take an extreme risk for so long. The debt cap issue will be resolved, but perhaps after March 1, because the alternative is unimaginable.
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