That is precisely the kind of hard constraint Congress needs imposed on it otherwise it will never cut federal spending down to size.

FORBES: Enough Is Enough On Raising The Federal Debt Limit

Under this hard budget constraint, the rest of the government would have to live on whatever revenues are left over after debt service and Social Security benefits are paid unless Congress is willing to vote for more new borrowing, by super-majority vote if it wants to increase the debt more than the economy is growing.

FORBES: In Passing The Most Recent Budget, Congress And The President Lied

If Congress imposes a hard budget constraint on itself by refusing to raise the debt ceiling and establishes Social Security and interest on the debt as priority must-pays out of revenues before any other programs may be funded, it would require total other, non-priority spending to be reduced not quite one-third on average during the next ten years.

FORBES: Enough Is Enough On Raising The Federal Debt Limit