By Hunter Walker 1/12 2:25pm

Cash Money

Charlie Rangel (Photo: Getty)

Charlie Rangel Discusses the Debt Ceiling Debate and $1 Trillion Coin

Congressman Charlie Rangel sat down with a small group of reporters yesterday for a wide-ranging discussion at his office. One of the main topics was the brewing battle over the debt ceiling and Politicker asked the congressman for his take on the idea President Barack Obama can avoid a fight with congressional Republicans who won’t raise the debt cap by having the Treasury Department mint a $1 trillion coin.

“I’m working on the design, one for the president and one for me,” Mr. Rangel said with a smile.

We wondered whether that meant he wanted to see his portrait depicted on the coin.

“No, I want one of the coins,” the congressman responded as the assembled reporters laughed. “The president gets one, he puts it in the treasury. I get one, I keep it. Makes sense to me.”

Earlier in the conversation, Mr. Rangel criticized Republicans who have said they will not vote to raise the debt ceiling without spending cuts because he said they are solely focused on slashing “so-called entitlements” that are social programs for “vulnerable” portions of the population. Read More

By David Freedlander 8/03/11 1:55pm

The Gillibrand Vote

ruben diaz

Diaz to Gillibrand: Now You Are Against Tax Hikes On The Rich?

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand sure is receiving flack from unlikely quarters for her vote yesterday against raising the federal debt ceiling on the grounds that it wasn’t a “balanced” approach.

First, State G.O.P. Chairman Ed Cox remarked on Gillibrand’s “political transformation.”

“In just over 2 years in the United States Senate, she has gone from upstate conservative Democrat Congresswoman to downstate liberal, representing the views of the most radical elements of her party,” he said. Read More

By David Freedlander 8/02/11 10:34pm

debt ceiling debate

The US Capitol Building is pictured at d

Beating the Debt Hoarse: As Washington Deadline Neared, Outrage Looked for An Outlet, and Ennui Reigned

As the American economy inched closer to collapse on Monday morning, 50 people took to the streets of Lower Manhattan, stripped naked and pantomimed life on Wall Street. One yelled about stock prices like a trader on the floor. Another swept the streets. A third pretended to sell hot dogs.

“This is a commentary on the absurdity of the situation,” said the artist behind the project, Zefrey Throwell. “It’s totally a Freudian nightmare to have people show up and work naked on Wall Street. This absurd statement I consider parallel to the lack of transparency on our financial structures.” Read More

By David Freedlander 8/02/11 3:50pm

debt ceiling debate

NY_Rep_Gregory_Meeks

Gregory Meeks, NYC's Lone Debt Deal Vote, Says Why

Queens Congressman Gregory Meeks told The Politicker this morning that he was a reluctant vote to raise the debt ceiling, but that ultimately enough concessions were made by House Republicans to convince him to sign on.

“In order to get this done right, we very definitely had to have some revenue,” he said. “But if we are going to have a compromise, and there will be no revenue, then entitlements should not be cut, and as of right now entitlements have not been cut.” Read More

By David Freedlander 8/01/11 2:14pm

NY-9

Turner Says Yes, Weprin Leans No On Debt Ceiling Deal

Both the Republican and Democratic candidates for the Anthony Weiner’s former Congressional seat are out with a statement this afternoon on the deal reached last night to extend the federal debt ceiling by cutting federal spending.

And in a move that may mirror how the rest of the country reacts to the measure, G.O.P. Bob Turner is hailing its passage, while Democrat David Weprin knocks the House leadership for holding the country “hostage.” Read More

By Reid Pillifant 7/28/11 1:32pm

Debt Feeling

Jerrold Nadler (Photo: Getty)

Nadler Nudges Obama: 'Make Room for the 14th Amendment'

Representative Jerry Nadler thinks there’s a “high likelihood” of a complete breakdown in negotiations between House Republicans and the president over the debt ceiling, and he thinks the Democrats’ best option at this point is to push the president to solve the problem unilaterally, since Speaker John Boehner is still trying to rustle the votes for a debt ceiling deal that the president and Senate have already declared a non-starter.

“I really think there’s a very high likelihood of a total impasse here, which would be catastrophic,” Nadler told me this morning. “And so we have to push the 14th Amendment, and make room for the 14th Amendment.” Read More

By Reid Pillifant 7/25/11 10:00pm

Debt Feeling

Schumer: Reid's Plan 'Only Viable Solution'

Senator Chuck Schumer cheered President Obama’s prime-time address to the American people tonight, in which the president said a group of House Republicans was unwilling to accept a compromise debt ceiling deal that would raise some revenues.

“The President placed the blame for this deadlock where it belongs—squarely on the shoulders of an extreme bloc within the House Republicans that refuses to compromise even one inch,” Schumer said in a statement emailed shortly after the speech. “As the President made clear, their approach will drive the U.S. economy over a cliff, and take millions of American families’ budgets with it.” Read More

By Reid Pillifant 7/24/11 10:48am

Debt Feeling

Weprin Weighs In on Debt Ceiling

David Weprin isn’t in Congress yet — and can’t even be elected until mid-September — but that won’t stop him from criticizing House Republicans on the debate over the debt ceiling, which must be resolved in the next 10 days to avoid defaulting on the nation’s debt.

“What the Republicans in Congress are doing is shameful,” Weprin said in a statement his campaign emailed this morning. “To put it simply, they are playing chicken with our economy and are placing our nation’s economic well-being in jeopardy for the sake of playing partisan games.” Read More