A State of National Economic Emergency

[Rosco T.]

no reason PBO could not declare one in case of shutdown or default.

at that point..... what could he do?

[Tidy Cat]

1. Even if he does that, what, constitutionally, can he do?

[Rosco T.]

3. That's my question...

.. what powers does he have under a 'State of Emergency'?

Remove the sequester?
Declare the govt stay open?
Dissolve the debt ceiling?
Order infrastructure projects to 'stimulate' the economy (ie. massive jobs program)?
Order the GOP Extortionists arrested?

[Old Navy]

5. Halt all Republican paychecks.

Order the Department of Defense to cut their budget by 95% right the hell now.

Order the execution of every single House Republicans who are harming American people and ignoring their constitutents.

(Yes, I'm *THAT* mad!)

[Tidy Cat]

6. I'm not sure about 3 of the 5 suggestions,

but I know for a fact that he can't order the arrest of congresscritters, and I know you're not serious about that.
He could order infrastructure projects, but you run into the problem of funding, only the Congress can pass funding bills.

There's probably some things he can do, but not enough to offset a shutdown.

[oldhippie]

2. He could do anything he wants ....

... that he is authorized to do by the Constitution.

[Warpy]

4. Don't forget the massive legacy of executive orders

he got writer's cramp signing the day after he was sworn in. I'm sure some of those will cover the situation nicely.

[FreeJoe]

7. Nothing different

He has no special emergency powers to spend money not allocated. It is not a precedent we want set. Concentrating power in the Presidency, even when we control it, is not a good long term idea.