Debt Ceiling Question

[SoutherDem]

I have heard it both ways, we can selectively pay bills and we can't, it is all or nothing. So, which is it?

[2naSalit]

1. Cannot selectively pay bills, period.

Edited to add: and if we did do that, all soc. security and any other kind of social funding would be cut to make such funds available for paying Tbill indebtedness.

[SoutherDem]

2. Thanks

[PoliticAverse]

5. Note though that Oct 17th isn't a firm date as to when the Treasury runs out of cash...

Oct. 17 Is Start Rather Than Finish of Debt-Limit Endgame
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-10-15/oct-dot-17-is-start-rather-than-finish-of-debt-limit-crisis-endgame

[elleng]

3. Can't, if for no other reason, much too difficult to DO,

as 'we' pay so many bills of so many kinds every day, no way doing so could be 'programmed.'

[Make7]

4. It's not a realistic option - the Treasury processes 3 million to 5 million checks every day.

Obviously it is a largely automated process and it is wishful thinking that it can be reprogrammed in a matter of days to achieve some desired prioritization without it becoming hopelessly screwed up. In addition, the priorities will probably be changing regularly depending on what cash is available so having to continually redo such a large automated system is pretty much a recipe for disaster.