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Subscribe to RSSPresident Barack Obama said if congressional negotiators cannot draft a full budget by March 1, they should at least come up with a short-term combination of spending cuts and revenue increases in order to stave off deep federal spending cuts scheduled for that date.
"If Congress can't act immediately on a bigger package, if they can't get a bigger package done by the time the sequester is scheduled to go into effect," Obama said, "then I believe that they should at least pass a smaller package of spending cuts and tax reforms that would delay the economically damaging effects of the sequester for a few more months until Congress finds a way to replace these cuts with a smarter solution."
Charles Dharapak / AP
President Barack Obama turns towards cameramen and reacts to a sound as he speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013.
The sequester, reached as part of 2011 budget negotiations, was never actually supposed to take effect. Rather, its deep cuts, including almost $500 billion in defense spending over nine years, were put in place as a trigger to get Congress to agree to more comprehensive budget and tax reform.
House Speaker John Boehner released a written statement before Obama’s remarks, blaming the president for the sequester and saying he would not support any additional revenue increases.
“President Obama first proposed the sequester and insisted it become law,” Boehner said, adding, “We believe there is a better way to reduce the deficit, but Americans do not support sacrificing real spending cuts for more tax hikes."
In recent weeks, members of Congress appeared to be playing rhetorical chicken over the cuts, with some suggesting they were resigned to the across-the-board cuts.
“I think it’s more likely to happen,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) was quoted as saying by the Washington Post last week.
But the White House has stood firm on the self-imposed cuts, with White House Press Secretary Jay Carney underscoring Friday that the sequester was always intended to be replaced.
“The negative consequences of implementation would be bad across the board," Carney said. "That's the point. So Congress needs to do its job."
And the president hinted that revenues would remain central to all budget negotiations, telling CBS in a Sunday interview that “there is no doubt we need additional revenue coupled with smart spending reductions in order to bring down our deficit."
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They already negotiated a short term fix. That got them into this mess. The last time around the republicans agreed to raise the taxes. Now its time to cut the spending as agreed upon.
What taxes did republicans agree to raise?
Those on people who make over $400,000....
Spending has been our savior, not our villain. Without the timely spending, we would be in a much worse position and probably a deep depression The real problem facing this country is an INCOME problem. We don't make enough to support our government. The country is broke because it's citizens are broke
If you somehow paid off all the debt tomorrow, but nothing else changed, the country would still have economic troubles....The two are related in ONE direction, but they re not the same thing. The economic troubles of the nation cause the debt problem of the government, but not the other way around. Ther fore, just cutting spending won't get it done as it doesn't address the real problem
Ed - Econ 101. Take it.
That's not to say that some spending cuts are not in order, but that would have been true even without the debt and it still would not solve our economic woes as they are a different issue. The debt of the government is a problem, but it is not the REAL problem, it is just a result of it
Ed is mostly right, 'corrupt'. I believe spending can be reduced, but not through the draconian austerity measures that republicans favor. But it is correct to say that 'our country is broke because it's citizens are broke'.
If you have one, why don't you try presenting an actual argument?
No, Ed is right. When Republicans can prove they know anything about economics, they can get back to us. Read what Paul Krugman (Nobel-prize winning professor of economics) and some others say about the debt. We're cooked if we don't bring back some jobs now, and following that, the deficit will actually take care of itself. Or we can just slash spending to the bone and go into another depression, like the U.K. has chosen to do.
Ranting and wailing Repubs....Americans rejected their gloom and doom in the election....refusing them the WH and losing seats in House and Senate.
Repubs....whiners with absolutely no solutions.....come 2014 they will lose again.
Sorry, Puff, but the Republicans are the only ones who have presented a budget in the last 4 years. Only reason Obama is being forced to do one now is the Republicans put him in a spot. The whining is from the Dems who can't stand it.
JB: Look at the posts on this site alone from the Repubs....bunch of whiners spewing gloom and doom.
Just because Repubs presented a "budget" doesn't mean it was anywhere close of being feasible or good for Americans. In fact, just the opposite, their budgets, even the experts said, would actually get us deeper in debt and the cuts would be carried on the backs of the poor, elderly and children.
The only claim to the cuts being on the backs of the poor, elderly, children are the Dems who use the same tired argument every year. Obama has no new plans, no new ideas, nothing but raise taxes and spend more. The budget passed by the House was responsible, it did cut spending, and it did piss off dems and people like you who just can't stand the truth.
JB: Not just the Dems....many financial experts of both parties said the same thing.
Talk about tired arguments....the "no new palns, ideas, etc." line is straight from the Fox, Rush talking points.....and as always nothing but lies and nonsense.
Dems are not pissed off, we won the election, and Repubs are caving on most issues...deficit, immigration, guns, ACA.
GOP is imploding....even Rove has started a PAC to fight the Tea Party...the monster he created...LOL!
Well, I guess we just have to wait and see. Next election is 2014, we will see how many are reelected and who controls House and Senate. Obama? well he will be done at the end of 2016 and a new President elected. Right now the House can stop the foolishness coming from the White House and maybe the Senate will grow a set and become part of the equation, although, with Harry at the helm that may be hard to do. But, it does seem to me that the dems are doing an awful lot of whining lately. Gun control? not much will happen here, tighten check system, mental health, maybe but not much more. Immigration? Rubio and other Senators have already put forth a plan. Speaking of winning election, you, (dems) didn't take back the House. Did you?
Republicans lost seats in the House.
Democrats defended all 23 open Senate races and picked up 2 seats, plus an independent.
Oh yeah then there was that Presidential election thing...
and EVERYTHING is just hunky dory, isn't it....Re-Elect Obama.... I don't know how much more of a good thing America can stand.
Let the sequester continue. It will cut $60 billion a year from defense and $40 billion from other spending. At least it is a step in the right direction. Won't help or hurt the economy, Obama policies have done enough to hurt that already. Obama wanted the sequester to begin with and now that it is coming he is running scared. Scared that he won't have anything to say about the cuts. He wants more tax increases so he can have more to spend. Don't give him a penny more without incorporating spending cuts in any bill sent to him.
Nothing changed in the 2012 election. Obama is still on vacation, Dems still obstruct in the Senate, GOP House keeps Obama curbed. 243 Dems elected and 241 GOP elected.
However, notice that in the House, ALL seats were up for election and the GOP STILL retains control...by a wide margin. Uh oh.... What happened, Dems?
Will the GOP in the House lose again as they did in 2010 and 2012? GREAT!!!!!
Plus, most governors are GOP (30) as are most state legislatures (27). Uh oh...
No mandate for the left...LOL No leadership for America.....still.
Republicans lost seats in the House.
Yep. And the 30 governorships and 27 state legislatures you speak of; well, we're talking about mostly small, rural, red states here anyway. And, those things really have no bearing on national level politics and elections. But, if that makes you feel better, then good for you.
NC: Many of those states are having buyers remorse, like Florida, and will not re-elect the governors and will elect a Dem.
hate speech because someone doesn't agree w/the president, really? sir stand up and defend this rope a dope short term approach or don't post. the president blamed bush for 4 years now he has finally accepted some responsibility sorry scratch that now he is going to blame the republicans. news flash the democrats held a majority in both i repeat both the house and senate from 2007-20011. that's 4 straight years now please tell me how everything is the republicans fault. don't give me that 60 vote stuff that wasn't/isn't needed for spending bills. spending that too many republicans agreed to and not enough democrats opposed. so repeat the talking points or think for yourself but don't call disagreement hate speech
hey you go obama.....kick the troubles down the road again......someone impeach this guy....the worst president we have seen in our history........
Haha, gee 'wack', what a well thought out and logical argument you've made.
How much history have you seen?
mc: Not according to majority of Americans who re-elected him and voted for Dems to gain seats in both House and Senate.
Seems you, like most Repubs are in that tiny tent called the GOP.....and it is getting smaller and smaller each day.
Hey I don't like Democrats, But hey give the guy a break he's black and has no experience doing anything or job skill He got in because everyone thought it would be cool to have a NIG in the White house... So please he's a NIG deal with him like the rest of the world deals with them...GEEEEEE!
Stupidity should be painful...and not rewarded. “A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.” — George Bernard Shaw
Well as usual, cant find a permanent fix because you don't have a clue because no-one else in your cabinet has a clue so lets just put band-aid on it for the next 4 years you already ran this country into the ground, housing market suck people are still losing there homes, unemployment still up there, companies are cutting back on workers hours to avoid Obama care so screw it were done I just don't know why We allowed government depended people to vote because there going to vote for whoever keeps supporting them and its hard sometime thinking that this used to be a country with strong values and that other countries looked up to us and wanted to come here, only ones are the Mexicans to strip us of our resources and go back to Mexico!!! what morons "Democrats/Liberals/ Muslim brotherhood" all the same group give up on America and support there middle east brothers.. but hey Obama keep milking it and spend 4 more years of spending to go and you can retire being known has the worst President this country ever had and the one who destroyed it!! what a legacy to leave your nigglets....
'douchebag',
I would love to see you say that in my neighborhood, you little biotch. Where do all you little ignorant, redneck, racist pussies come from?
Hey genius, Congress controls spending and taxation, not the President.
bh: Hammer would never say that to anyone's face. He is a coward, sitting behind his PC spewing his hate.
Dragon!!! Gee Wiz that's a scary name must be lacking something??? and I would say to your face and people that know Me will back it.. I work the hood and deal with these people day and night 6 days a week for a local Dept so suck my balls you lame ass Muslim brotherhood Liberal piece of @!$%# and to save you the trouble My handle "Hammer" is from when I was a carpenter before I went to law enforcement So deal with it and stay up north with the rest of your brotherhood and stay your ass out of the south...Wimp! Dragon EWWWW Scary!! Fag!!!
bhart2000
Calling Me ignorant, Be otch is the correct spelling not Biotch go back to school and get off the welfare and I would come by your neighborhood but I work and don't have the luxury of walking to My mailbox and get my check like you do!!!
GOP feeling the sting of the 2012 election, now caving on almost all of their talking points....deficit, immigration, guns.
Even Rove has started a PAC to fight the Tea Party monster he created....LOL!
It is entertaining to watch GOP implode and Repubs ranting and wailing.
The president must stop playing chicken and have a long term fix for the nations deficit and economy! I told you all so the obama is good for nothing but you all continue to be led by stupid! Who is for this nation anymore? Crooks? We are the laughing stock of the world. Obama and the media have caused stupid to be the norm and wrong to be right! We suck America! We are being led by big, big SUCK!
Nice, tepid response. "If you can't fix the problem, at least try to do (yet another) short-term solution."
This is a continuing problem and the short-term solutions that are becoming standard really don't help.
Leadership is needed here, and unfortunately, we haven't had that in this country since 1963.
I wonder if Washington is getting tired of kicking the can. All we ever get is a short term fix which really isn't a fix at all.
Why not try this all people that never paid into our system stop receiving checks usless, first you get drug tested once a year, second you go back to school for some sort of job training, third if involved in a crime that has a felony charge all benefits are droped, fourth goverment houseing must be keep clean if damaged you must leave unless damage is fixed to goverment specs, fifth due to the fact so many are commiting felonys agaist there own goverment jail and or prison time must be pursued to stop money being robed by the very system set up to help people if the goverment is unwilling to inforce this then turn it over to local goverment this will save billions of dollars annually that is stolen and wasted at last if you are one of the ones that do this how can you live with yourself just a concered tax payer
I`m sorry to say but you rightwingers have gone off the deep end you talk out your a@#@# if you only understood some of the stuff you say on here you would hide your head in the sand and never say anything again. If any dem ever said the things that you people come up with you would say they were crazy and you would be right. If you people ever said anything that you came up with on your own without the the rightwing spin then maybe just maybe someone will hear you. As for now your talking to deaf ears.
whatever.. Get a thicker skin. The left is far from perfect.
i can't believe i'm going to quote Olbermann. What he said to gwb on tv i'll say to the president here: "F you, sir. You got your taxes. Now grow a pair and make real cuts, or let the sequester occur!
what wrong with you people....your republican or demorates before your americans.....oh by the way i'm still paying for vietnam..nobody held up the budget for me
For those of you that voted for him: You asked it for it!!
Yes I did, because I studied economics and the President knows what he's doing. Republicons don't.
If this country would cut the EPA nazi's budget, maybe we could get rid of them and get our energy plants back in action! Not only would that cut a huge chunk of money out of the budget but it would boost the economy by putting real workers back to work!
tim, give it up. coal is dead. coal is dirty and causes acid rain and the only way to produce it economically is to cut back on safety and environmental protection, endangering miners and the surrounding communities. that way of life is ending.
you watch too much fox news.......just a taking point ,look at CHINA they have no EPA and you can't see two feet in front of you due to the smog.........if that was your city you would be asking where in the hell is the EPA.......YOU HAVE NO CLUE WHAT A REAL NAZI IS
Joe
In Illinois, coal was a huge industry and made up of strip mines. These strip mines provided jobs for equipment operators, sellers, manufacturers , plant workers, maintenance mechanics etc.............. The Epa has killed more jobs in Illinois than you can fathom!
USA
This is not China! I know several plants that were spending millions of dollars to keep up with EPA regs but could not meet the deadlines so the EPA nazis shut them down. Thousands of jobs were lost because of it.
ok...you are right.but there is clean coal technologies that could be employed at all coal burning plants that would filter out 95% of the pollutants....but companies don't want to spend the money
USA
The companies are spending the money and that is why your utility bill keeps going up. Your taxes keep going up because with all the layoffs the tax base is shrinking. The Gov has to keep the EPA on the payroll somehow!
So now Obama is insisting that budget cuts be "smart". That's an outrage! As a tea party fanatic, I believe budget cuts should be random, thoughtless, and stupid. We need to attack liberal programs like NPR and planned parenthood, and gut agencies like EPA and DOE. We must keep up the focus on these wasteful programs, even though completely ending all non-defense discretionary spending would only reduce the deficit by a few percentage points. Facts do not matter, folks, this is WAR. Obama does not define "smart", by which he probably means that he supports massive socialist spending on infrastructure, education, nutrition support for childred, etc. We must insist that such programs be ended and that the money saved be handed to job creators (millionaires) so that they can invest in China and make lots of money to pay their maids and gardners, thereby creating jobs in the USA.
Now let's see what the Republicans are made of,......WAIT for a 4 year budget. Take it or leave it Bary O Boy. If Boner and the Republicans crash on this,.....then they are DONE,.....that's F I N I S H E D. kaput the media ALWAYS writes bad about the Repubs anyway.
albo knows nothing!
Another stupid liberal sheeple!
How bout this obama: Lead by example! One good start would be to quit campaigning, taking Air Force One on trips every other day.
It's just like going to the corner store for that idiot, so what if it takes over a million dollars every time it lifts off! Why should anybody else think they should try to cut costs when obama is acting like the government has limitless funds. But what can you expect from someone that has been sucking on the government tit his whole life.
Get a clue obama and start cleaning your own house before bitching about the neghborhood.
It's 214 million ever time He fly's google it!!!!
hammer - nope - you're just wrong on that - but when are the rabid Obama haters ever right?
All the time...
The price of a 747 is $200 to $300 million. Do you think they buy a new one every time they fly? Learn not to be mathematically illilerate and it'll enrich your life.
They are finished anyway,,,lmao
The ultimate terrorist ways we do and we do what?