I may have misspoke in that my responce may have implied that the President has some powers regarding the authority of paying the debt.

I was meaning that once Congress passes a budget that it was the President's duty to direct the Treasury Department in what order that the nations bills are to be paid and that those outstanding War debts of the time were to be paid first.

Of course I believe that the US Supreme Court has ruled on the 14th Amendment and this particular section, I believe twice.