NR's A Martinez speaks with Democratic Sen. The debt limit is a law restricting how much the federal government may borrow.The Constitution forbids using the threat of national default the way some in Congress are now using it. Plaintiffs claiming that the debt ceiling is unconstitutional didn't file a motion for immediate relief. So far, neither President Joe Biden nor House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, RCalif. , is giving ground ahead of debt ceiling talks. The president plans to address the nation at 7 p.m. Eastern about legislation that will avert an unprecedented default on U.S. debt. But a top White House adviser to President Joe Biden said they were hopeful for a resolution. If Congress had listened to the American people and sent that amendment to the States for ratification, we would not be facing the fiscal crisis we are today.