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Subscribe to RSSThe sequester -- a series of sudden, deep cuts in military and domestic spending -- was supposed to be so destabilizing and unthinkable that it was conceived specifically to force Washington to work together on an alternative budget.
But in the face of dire warnings from President Barack Obama and some congressional leaders about these looming spending reductions, there seem few signs of panic on Capitol Hill now that they are just weeks away.
Forty-four billion dollars in cuts to federal outlays are set to start on March 1, amounting to an eight percent cut in defense spending and six percent in non-entitlement non-defense spending.
"These sudden, harsh, arbitrary cuts would jeopardize our military readiness," President Barack Obama said in his State of the Union speech, and would "devastate" federal spending on education, energy, and research.
Despite such language from Obama, the reductions may not seem as immediate or terrifying to some members of Congress as the rhetoric would make it seem. There was no sense Thursday of Congress needing to get a deal clinched this week. After the House voted Thursday on a procedural motion on a Republican bill to extend a two-year pay freeze for federal employees, it headed off for a week's recess.
President Barack Obama explains his view on what a sequester would do to the U.S. economy while delivering the State of the Union on Tuesday.
"Our work schedule frankly does not match the gravity of the challenge that our country faces," said Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn., at a House hearing on the spending cuts Thursday before the subcommittee on Workforce Protection, which is part of the Education and Workforce Committee.
But as Courtney also indicated, there's nothing magical or irrevocable about March 1. "There is still time" to devise an alternative, he told the hearing. Congress and the president could come up with a deal on March 1 "or even on March 2," he said.
The thinking among some in Congress is that the bargaining over the spending cuts -- known as "the sequester" in Capitol Hill lingo -- will be folded into negotiations on the continuing spending resolution that expires on March 27.
For large Defense Department contractors such as General Dynamics, which is building the Virginia-class submarine in Groton, Conn. (in Courtney's district), the Department of Defense funds "are already well into the system," Courtney said. Procurement for submarines plays out over several years and doesn't come to sudden stop.
"Contracting officers (in the Pentagon) who have to deal with these defense vendors -- they are not going to turn the switch off on Day 1," Courtney said.
He added, "It's not going to be done by the Department (of Defense) all at once, in one single day."
He cited Senate testimony this week from Admiral Mark Ferguson, the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, that the two subs slated to be built in 2013 are, in Courtney’s words, "pretty much solid, even if sequestration kicks in."
But the subs slated for 2014 "could be at risk, and that's not a good thing, but it's not going to trigger an immediate reduction of workers on March 1."
He added later he was not trying to minimize the damage that would be done if sequester cuts took effect -- damage such as postponing the deployment of the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Harry Truman to the Mediterranean and the loss of some funds for Head Start programs, including ones in his district.
Layoffs just 'speculative and unforeseeable'
But even as Obama warns about the suddenness of the spending cuts, Assistant Secretary of Labor Jane Oates, in testimony Thursday before the subcommittee on Workforce Protection, re-affirmed what the Obama administration told employers last July: At the moment, despite the threat of spending cuts, firms with federal contracts are not required to send out the 60-day plant-closing and worker-layoff notices to their employees that would be required by the 1988 WARN (Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification) Act.
Any layoffs that might be caused by the spending cuts -- for example at defense contractors such as Boeing and General Dynamics -- are, for now, "speculative and unforeseeable," in Oates' words. That was the view of the Labor Department last July and she affirmed that it remained her view as of Thursday.
Since there's so much uncertainty about whether the cuts will occur, the firms can't know if some of their workers will need to be laid off. Therefore they need not issue the WARN notices -- until and unless they get specific information from the federal government of contract terminations or program cuts that would result in layoffs.
But employers may be put in a legally awkward and costly bind -- the WARN Act imposes large legal liabilities on employers if they fail to give their employees warning -- but then later order mass layoffs or plant closures.
The Obama administration, in a memo issued last September by the Office of Management and Budget, has told companies with federal contracts that it will reimburse them for litigation costs and other costs if they follow the Labor Department guidance and later get hit with lawsuits from laid-off workers under WARN.
As lawyers prepare for possible litigation over WARN, some House Republicans say they're willing to live with the sequester cuts if there's no other way to cut spending.
Rep. James Lankford, R-Okla., one of GOP's rising stars and the chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee, told reporters Thursday that the sequester "is the law of the land … I would much rather find a way to replace it with a more reasonable long-term perspective of how we deal with our long-term debt issues. But if we don't have anything else, we don't have anything else. It is the law; it's going into effect."
Lankford said he opposed the idea of simply pushing back the effective date of the spending cuts.
'False promise'
Republicans are facing pressure from conservative groups to stick with the spending cuts since they are already embodied in law and not merely theoretical.
The conservative Club for Growth said last week, "The cuts that were promised in the sequester should be done, in whole, this fiscal year and not punted a day past when they are supposed to go into effect."
Any sequester replacement bill should not include tax increases or "another false promise to do more cuts later," the group said.
Some Republicans may be more concerned about the $44 billion in cuts than they are publicly acknowledging, but nonchalance is a better negotiating posture than panicky desperation.
At this point some Republicans appear to be following the advice given by conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer last week.
Obama figured that "draconian defense cuts would drive the GOP to offer concessions," Krauthammer wrote. But this move, he said, "backfired. The Republicans have offered no concessions. Obama's bluff is being called and he's the desperate party."
Krauthammer said, "The Republicans finally have leverage. They should use it."
There might be more awareness and alarm among people back home in congressional districts if certain groups weren't exempt from the spending cuts.
But these groups -- some of them potentially loud and powerful -- are in fact exempt from the spending cuts and would suffer no direct harm. They include uniformed military personnel (their pay is exempt from the cuts), people collecting Social Security benefits, and federal (including military) retirees.
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This story was originally published on Fri Feb 15, 2013 4:19 AM EST
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For all US reps in Washington, regardless of party, who say they believe in "One nation under God", I encourage you to take seriously the message He sent via His son Jesus. That message was unconditional and makes no allowances for excuses - make what is righteous and good for all of mankind happen.
Unfortunately, far too many in Washington continually turn their backs on those truly in need, and play the blame game by pointing out abuses that in reality are a super small % of the masses in need. Instead of dealing with the abuses and abusers (way too much work for them because they don't care), they would rather scrap all the programs and let people fend for themselves regardless of their ability to do so. Unfortunately, this is the mindset of the vast majority of the Republicans and Tea Party members. They believe they were self-made, so why can't everyone else.
"One nation under God" - prove it! Once we get there, America will truly be God-blessed.
It's true there are abusers and it is also a fact that there those in need that don't use the system to help them and do suffer in the name of pride.
God should never enter the picture as I believe seperation of Church and State. To point out our Founding Fathers wrote that being Religious is not a requirement to being a Senator. That is in the prerequisits for the job to this day.
"under God" was added to the pledge in the 50"s as a result of McCarthy era paranoia. We should all be embarassed that it is there and should push to return the pladge to what it was originally.
Yankee17 -
“Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” Matthew 15:14.
6dogs you are truly an idiot. Try and learn proper English at least before making statements that are absolutely stupid and wrong. Separation of Church and State was only for the "ESTABLISHMENT of a STATE CHURCH" like England had done and had NOTHING to do with religious convictions being a part of laws in the nation. I will be glad when the end of time comes and people like you and cts are separated forever from God and his people, what a glorious day that will be.
6dogs -
There is nothing in the Constitution nor any Amendment that says there shall be a separation of church and state. It says
That means that Congress cannot make you join any religious organization. Some people actually need to read the Constitution, Bill of Rights and Amendments then read the Jefferson papers. He pretty well spelled everything out.
msnbc and bubba, the Supreme Court disagrees with you but , hey, what do they know ?
Again we have ignorance hour over separation of church and state which only requires a 2nd grade knowledge of history to understand. The framers of the Constitution were all Colonists who had come from England or from a family from there. The first colonists were fleeing religious persecution because the Anglican Church is the official state Church of England. Pilgrims and Puritans and Quakers etc. All the Amendment means is no official Church for America and that's it. Just because Progressivesare simpletons I can anticipate the response and will pre-respond. Not a Christian morons, don't even believe in God.
Hank - I am sure you know how to read but comprehension may be another matter.
It has nothing to do with the practice of religion of a free society but has everything to do with Congress imposing religion upon its citizens. In the case referenced above since the Federal Government was funding that school then the school could not impose a religious belief upon its students.
Obama already has the best way to solve all these problems ... have the government to take over all industries and trade. They can then make us all government employees and pay what they think is appropriate for each job title. We should then change our flag to better represent the people of America. In stead of red, white and blue... it should be yellow, brown and black... and the stars should be replaced by little red hammer and sickles.
I am sure Michelle had a hand in the design..she does have fashion sense, you know..
According to Nancy Peloci... we don't have a spending problem... we have an income problem... LMAO. She has finally gone completely senile.But sadly, this is the thinking of our current administration.
Senile, yes, but also, the skin on her face is so tight that it is applying pressure to the brain causing delusional thinking, distorted brain functions...in medical terms..... a Liberal..
Pelosi is only out for herself, just like all politicians, it does not matter the party affiliation. She does not think the congress needs a pay cut because it will tarnish the office. What ever that means. Congress is steady giving themselves raises without even going to work. We the people have a problem and it is bigger than most people realize.
Texas -
THe office is already tarnished because of politicians like her.
Hey, what's the panic? Along with everyone else, I heard and saw Obama during the debates promise there would be no sequester.
Obama never lies to the American public, ever, nope, never..ever....well, maybe one eensie teensie bit about Benghazi... but he just received bad information for two weeks... no biggie!!!
Rest and relax... we are in good hands with Honest B Obama!!!
How can you spot a democrat?
Look for the guy without elbows.
He always has this hand out and can't wipe his own a...
Tracy- good one!
I prefer to think of them as Bed wetters:
Bed Wetters Charter members:
Obama, Lew for their work on developing the Sequester we all love
Reid for his remarkable work in secret on Obamacare we will love once we read it
Pelosi, Durbin, Shumer and Biden for just being a boring nuisances and being the creative genius behind the dreams..
Really? My hand isn't out and you really don't want to find out how well my elbows work. You need to quit drinking Troll Aid so early in the day. Obama Care can help you with that addiction. Your what 13-14 years old. Didn't your Daddy teach you not to poke the bear.
You teabaggers really need to get a life and a sense of humor. Your jokes suck.
markin.. who's joking? Just stating facts derived from live examples.
markin, they are free what's your problem.
MARKIN, aswith many 14 year olds has yet to to learn how to handle disappointment with maturity. In another 45 years he will almost get it.
Please put power back into the hands of the Republicans. We will have our freedom back (Patriot Act) and we will reduce the deficit (unfunded wars, tax cuts, medicare prescription drugs). Well, not like Bush more like Reagan.
Q: Which president took us from the greatest creditor nation to the greatest debtor nation?
A: Reagan
Many of you have either a short memory or are deluded.
I think you forgot the democrats voted for the wars and the partiot act. Also, the democrats could have ended it all 4 years ago but they didn't.
Q. Which President will have the most money added to the national debt during his time in office?
A. Barack Obama, and it won't even be close.
Q. Which President since the 1940's will have the highest sustained unemployment rate during his tenure?
A. Barack Obama.
@Tracy, too much of that troll aid you are drinking will destroy what little brain cells you may have left, then you will become just like a lot of the other GOP base, really low informed. Is that what you want?
Tracy, you aren't allowed to point out that Democrats either went along with most Bush policies or did nothing to stop them. That's just not fair!!!
Tracy... they don't want to recognize historical facts..that makes their team look bad..
Consider their source of information... MSNBC/ NBC which is in the league of the Cartoon Channel.
Yes they also cry about a medicare drug plan that was not paid for, which they voted for. So when they had total control of the House, Senate and the Presidency they did not end it.
Historically, no form of government has ever proved to be lasting. Conservatism has failed many times. Liberalism has failed many times. Conservatism fails because the money becomes concentrated to too few. It doesn't matter if it is a monarchy or republic. Liberalism fails because it wants to treat all people as equals and they are not. You cannot have a perfect government that governs imperfect people. We have now gotten to point where we are just calling each other names. One guy thinks he works harder than someone he doesn't know. One guy thinks the other side doesn't care anything about anybody but themselves. It may all be true but we have to function as a society or have a civil war to decide who runs things. Right now you have a couple of generations of citizens (including those in congress) that have never done anything for this country except work and pay their taxes. Somehow they think doing the minimum is the maximum. You mention a 3% tax increase to them and they act like they were gut shot. Generation after generation of people in this country have given their all (including their lives and fortunes) to put us into the position to bitch like we do now. I don't ever remember reading or hearing about one thinking he was doing more than his or her share or that someone else wasn't doing theirs.
Washington strangely calm...
The Democrats are waiting to see what happens so they can begin picking up the pieces.
The republicons are gleefully clapping their hands - behind closed doors - because all their work at destroying this country and its economy may finally be coming to fruition.
Either way the anti-American hate-and-fear mongers think they win while losing because most Americans already blame the corrupt clowns for just about all the fiscal failure over the last 32 years.
How does 85-Billion in cuts the first year hurt a 3-trillion dollar budget? It does not. How does 1.2 Trillion hurt over 10-years while we will still add 7-Trillion in deficit spending over 6-years. All figures from the GAO.
How does federal cuts hurt school teachers, fire fighters and police? Those people are paid for by sales and property taxes on the local level. If a community is not taxing properly or spending too much on other things then maybe they need to get their fiscal house in order.
You are throwing facts out. Stop it. Only name calling, stereotyping, and fearmongerring is acceptable.
I forgot who my audience was... lol
What makes anyone think the GOP in Congress is going to change their ways? They have been saying NO for so long, it's the only word they now know. Remember how they promised to make Obama a one term POTUS? Well, they LIED about that, but they haven't quite trying.
The reason they haven't quite trying is they still can't believe they LOST the election, big time. Anyone who says different needs to look at the FACTS. The GOP lost some seats in the house and senate, and lost 7 of 12 governorships. If that hasn't sunk into their pea brains yet, well we will see the party of NO be that until they are either voted out or until that 'uppity' POTUS's second term is over.
The GOP was voted into their second-largest majority in the House since 1948.
If a "wildly" popular incumbent President easily winning reelection can't turn the tide, what makes you think things will be any different in 2014?
Barack Obama has "led" Democrats to their two worst defeats in Congress since 1948. How's that working for ya?
May be, SallyAnn, that we grew up learning to differentiate good from bad. We believe in saying NO to drugs, tyrants, dictators, illegalities and undermining the law of the land.
When is the left going to realize that the goal of ANY and ALL political parties is to make the opposition incumbent a one termer? That IS kind of how things work!
Or maybe, just MAYBE, you could supply us with a few names of Democrats who wanted GWB reelected!!!
FACTS are Obama is an idiot that has NOT FIXED ANYTHING. He got elected for being "black", with NO OTHER QUALIFICATIONS for ANYTHING. And I would have voted for a black woman from Texas named Barbara Jordan 30 years ago because she had CHARACTER and not just hype and jive.
I have a black woman pastor, black relatives, and so voting for anyone for any reason other than their ability and character is stupid, and idiotic but that is just what has happened the last 5 years because we now have a nation that is filled with more idiots than smart people, more immoral than moral people, more takers than givers, and more lazy bums than diligent workers. So the idiots may win an election but the nation will go down the tubes because the smart, godly, moral, and diligent ALWAYS RULE in the END. Count on it.
Sally, the republican controlled House has passed several bills some of which were jobs bills and a national budget. The democrat controlled Senate has not voted on them let alone debated them. I would say the Senate democrats are the do nothings.
But, but don't you know that the bills that the republicans passed are horrible, they will only make things worse? Only democrats know what needs to be done to make things better.
When was the last time Obama or any President has actually vetoed any proposed legislation?
The reality is people that support more government spending are the ones that benefit from it. While the ones that do not are the ones paying for it.
When you have a majority of the population are takers (do not pay taxes) and the minority are givers (taxpayers) then the system of government will collapse because you do not have enough givers.
If government keeps taking innovation dies as do nations.
Bubba- good points.
I would like to add to that. Polls ask if people are for or against many initiatives. Logically, of course, good initiatives WOULD be universally popular. That, however, is not a mandate, it is a wish. But like a kid sending Santa their Christmas list, they know they can't get everything. Practically, everyone knows that you have to balance wish list with the checkbook.
Obama and the LIbs translate that "Sure I would like that" as a mandate and forget the rest of the answer "but how can we pay for it?" Polls generally are rankings or yes/no without any option for clarity of response.
Obama knows this and knows how to twist and play with that information.
The public is not stupid, though he may try to play it that way.
Which is why Romney was right about the 47%. Hope sequestration isa hit with them as they voted for it.
what about the ppl who did pay the SS and are older than the xer's, who get just 1% COLA from the guy W/O a birth certificate who wants to bring more aliens here for their votes. Put them on welfare or collect from our SS and use the Medicare they didn't pay for in the first place. Plus his using our money to help bail out his pay backs for their backing him up and/or his terrific O'Bcare BS that is full of riders some 13000 page or more of them. This can go on and on and nothing will come of it....What about those senators and other who get big pay checks in DC and are onlhy there sometimes one day out of a week.... on and on and on all BS
Just keep in mind, libtards.......
The sequester was Oblahblah's idea.
not entirely- abomonation- it was part of the deal with Boehner and the debt ceiling and others and i remember Boehner said after that he was happy- he got 98% of what he wanted- and both repubs and dems voted for the sequester- the repub's figuring when Romney won they could just cancel it and increase the defense budget, which was part of Romneys plan as well
When are the voters in this country going to realize Congress and the Executive don't give a crap about them or the country? All they've ever cared about is themselves and lining their pockets. America you are the idiots that have placed yourselves in this pond scum, now just live without!
Please, GOP, allow the sequester to happen. It is the only way we will see any real cuts in spending. Do NOT be fooled by the Democrats again with their "I will happily pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today" philosophy.
Cuts are good even though it's just peanuts.
Ever notice that when the news topic is jobs and budget cuts, the libtards are nowhere to be found???
But talk about abortion, gay marriage and gun control and they come rolling out of the woodwork....
Is it giveaway day in the 'hood??
You guys do a better job of showing how ignorant teabaggers and radical rightists are than I could ever do.
March on.
Well, it is definitely before noon, anyways.....
But Hank, thanks for the intelligent and salient points made about jobs and the budget cuts.
We knew we could count on you. For what, we don't know yet, but we knew we could count on you.
Uh, Hank, shouldn't that be FORWARD!!?
How about REAL cuts to entoitlement programs Barry? WELFARE - FOOD STAMPS - UNEMPLOYMENT CUT FROM 99 WEEKS - you got your tax increases Jan 1 now it's time for everyone else to chip in their share as well - the people working aren;t here to support two familes (their own and the lazy slobs who live of the govt) - I realize there are many who need help but for every one who really needs it there is one or more who just takes and EXPECTS IT! Even Bill Maher says there are takers out there. Lets not the turn the rest of the country into a larger version of that cesspool corupt Chicago model you helped create.
Create JOBS and you create a larger tax base - quit giving away our tax dollars to companies destined to fail liek your 'green' enersy companies you touted during your SOTU address - those millions could help keep some of those entitlement programs going. Admit you've failed miserably with your economic policies (even your personal news organization NBC has polls showing 75% of the country thinks that) quit blaming everyone else - the common denominator is BARRY when it comes to the miserable economy - be historical and resign or face your childtren living their lives knowing their father has been rated the worst President EVER - imagine their autobiographies "Failures from My Father".
Well, what happened to the doom and gloom? Sequestration would result in massive economic collapse, military collapse, etc.
But, in fact, we're deeply cutting spending on those things anyway. Our government, and especially Republicans, really don't care anything about science and education unless it supports the military or goes into the pockets of the rich. Energy? Well we have plenty of oil and coal to burn so we can support the robber-oil Plutocracy and find out how far we can take AGW and Climate change.
Don't get your hopes up.
Notice they didn't have a comment from the Congressional Budget Office.
As delicate as the world situations is today, it amazes me that Obama injected the heavy cuts of sequester on the DOD. I agree that some cuts can be made, but not the level and size that would make the military weaker and less responsive. That, unfortunately, is what Obama and Lew have done in the sequester. Panetta and others confirm it. Now Obama is back peddling on it, feverishly.
He knows that after Benghazi, the world is not safe from Al Queda, not to mention his inaction with Iran, sitting on the bench during the Syria game, and watching the fireworks show from North Korea from his WH man cave.
Cuts in other areas not only are needed, but overdue and should be the focus. Not on safety and security.
you are about as stupid as a box of rocks, the world is no more dangerous now than it has ever been. What are you about 15, we stumble along anyway. If you can read, try a US history book. You are one of the parasites that doesn't pay taxes anyway what are you complaining about. Stupid AZZ, sitting on the bench with Syria, I am going to use some big words, you look them up "unintended consquences" Getting off the bench in Lybia, resutled in Benghazi, Al Queda is the result of "Jihadists" we supported against the Russians. I am sorry 4 Americans died but the reality is that is about as important as a pimple on an elephants azz. Arm chair punks like you disgust me.
We have more Generals right now than we did during WW2. If you don't think there is fat in the military then you are even dumber than I thought. The military understands better than most, that the greatest national security threat we face is the economic decline we are now in. Now I will use very simple terms for you, "There is no more money"!!!!!! Discretionary spending is less than 15% of expenditures, and I am tired of taxes until scum like you also start paying. Would you please put the barrell in your mouth and pull the trigger
DN -
What's the matter? Afraid your check won't be there next time?
As for the military, how easy it is for liberals to forget that the military is mandated by our Constitution while entitlements are not.
May I suggest that you move to a country more to your liking if you want to live off of the government teat?
I pay in the top 10% of taxpayers paying significant amounts for both federal and state. I voted against the GOP racist, christian taliban party of hate more so than voting for the president. I can't stand the extremists from either the right or the left. I would pay more, but I want everyone to pay something, so they have a stake in the govt. Part of my education was getting my CPA. When people say they pay payroll taxes even if they dont' pay federal income tax, that is just not true. Nearly all of those people qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit they are getting what little they paid and then some. They are also the ones that will have to depend on SS the most. I can't deduct my interest on my student loans, anything for paying for two children in college, basically all I can deduct is mortgage interest and property tax. Thats OK but other people can pay too and there will have to be increases in revenue, I understand that but there is also going to have to be massive cuts also. For my part, cut the military in half. Get rid of the Nazis in the DEA. Tell the truth to all public employees, including military that defined pension plans just don't work and some type of 401K plans for public employees are going to have to be phased in just reality. There is so much waste in govt, from city all the way up and the more you get rid of it then the less programs you have to cut, but there will have to be cuts. It seems our dysfunctional govt is unable to do this, so maybe the sequester is what has to happen. This bill was passed over 2 years ago and it hasn't been solved and we have had govt by crisis since then so maybe this is for the best.
"cut the military in half"... seems like that is exactly what most European countries have done. Now the French can't handle an airlift!
Where military growth is happening: Middle East and Far East and not just with conventional weapons and boots.
So you are saying, put our citizens working or travelling in foreign areas, our business interests and national security at risk...to provide for a pre-K program that shows dubious outcomes, 15 tech centers..that could be done at some future and better date, and other fun programs that are not time sensitive or absolutely essential.
Except you have never been to Europe so you dont really know what the hell you are even talking about. Maybe you can do simple math. There is no more money. Do you understand that. Our current military is being operated on borrowed money. You talk about airlifts, how about infrastructure here, we are ranked 25th in the world in infrastructure. Our national security is at risk because we are falling apart here. Now sonny don't tell me about international business, in the last 15 years I have over 2 million mile of travel, don't talk about things you know nothing about. I am sure an assistant mgr at Hardys doesn't know much about international business. As far as pre K programs you are a good example of what a lack of them results in.
Congress will simply put this off for another 30-60 days and go on doing nothing...
Let the sequester happen. The military can move money around. So can other government agencies. A 2% cut shouldn't cripple any department. Might be the best way to make agencies look at the duplicity and waste in their respective departments.
They don't care. They have guaranteed themselves pensions and healthcare for life, and they have stolen more money than even they will ever be able to spend.
I bet there is not one program, military or otherwise, that will not be getting even more money when all is said and done.