AdvertisementDemocrats, worried about a Biden-McCarthy deal, push a backup plan to avoid defaultMay 19, 2023Deirdre WalshBarbara SpruntfacebookEmailDemocratic Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont, flanked by Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Ed Markey of Massachusetts, addressed concerns about debt limit negotiations during a press conference on Thursday. A group of Senate Democrats sent a letter to President Biden urging him to invoke the 14th Amendment to avoid a debt default if he can't reach a deal with Republicans. (Getty Images)