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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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AmyB, if the republicans are such greedy people who want to hoard all the omney for themselves as folks like yourseld claim all the time why would they want to sabotage the economy? That would just mean they would have less money to steal and take from the middle class, again as folks like yourself claim.
Yes you moron. It's called oligarchism. It's the 2nd to last stage of vulture capitalism, and the final stage is feudalism. And if the money stays at the top with a very few elite, then those people control its worth at will and barter between themselves. Destroying the economy is exactly what rich bastards with no care toward the citizenry would do to finalize their positions.
When this sequester and the eventual end to unemployment forever ends then will we truly see the impact of our great POTUS. Sure glad I am not responsible.
Government spending cuts are about as phony as the National Anthem being sung at a Obama inauguration.
Apparently, President Obama isn't keeping up on the news. Wall Street just said that "the budget mess" doesn't matter. Not to them. Wall Street doesn't need no stinking budget as long as the FED keeps pumping billions and billions of printed money into the rigged and manipulated markets. Can this possibly get any worse?
NO.
yes
Wyo I hate to say it but it's true. Wall street says a sinking government will do nothing to the financial markets. Even fox has an article on it. Anyone have the msn link leftover?
THE PROBLEM
WITH ALL SOCIALISTS / COMMUNISTS..
Is That Eventually
Invariably..They Always Run Out Of......................................................................YOUR MONEY
OBAMA the SOCIALIST / COMMUNIST Wannabe...HAS Run Out Of ............................YOUR MONEY
16 TRILLION DOLLAR..Borrowed Chinese Tax Money Debt...
OBAMA the SOCIALIST / COMMUNIST Wannabe..Still Keeps SPENDING...More.............YOUR MONEY
OBAMA Has Stated..HE Does Not CARE ..How High The Debt ..will Go .He BORROWED 500 BILLION...again
Your CHILDREN..Now in DEBT ..FOREVER..OBAMA The SOCIALIST....HAS SPENT...........THEIR FUTURE
less than 1.2 trillion is chinese debt. More than 70% of the U.S. debt is owned by its own citizenry. Facts much?
America needs to use it's own money,print it, back it, no interest,and get away from the Federal Reserve!
Like Abraham Lincoln and JFK tried to do
your fools if you truly believe one party caused your countries destruction!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
all your politicans have screwed your country very badly!!!!!!!!!!!
but, they sure do take good care of all those other countries!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
roflmaooooooooooooo wake up people your being screwed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So this pres tells lies..then all the followers get on here and push the same line reiterating the lies..Then when called out they say prove it.....Well if you make a statement... you must prove it...If you tell a lie and cant prove it it is a lie........That's the way it works.. you make the statement its up to you to prove your statement not for those to prove your statement as a lie..if you cant prove than its a LIE...
Who is this freak anyway, "Robert b from stlou"
Sounds like he should be sent back to muslim world
Maybe i should join him, because he sounds right to me. "A house divided can not stand" It's not about whats best for the people as a whole, it's about being right. Both side are failing the people, and the people are failing each other by fighting and name calling. I must admit it keeps me entertained, far better than any reality t.v. (Sports not included, now that is capitalism at it"s best)
why are the republicans so dead set on taking benefits from people that depend on those benfits just to keep a roof over their heads and barely enough (sometimes not)just to eat.i want to know how the republicans think these people will pay their rent or house payment,or put food on the table,or pay for electricity,or pay child support,put gas in the tank to look for work so they dont have to be on social security.are the republicans going to pay those peoles bills for them,or take care of them when they are living in the streets.
What makes you think that it is the governments responsibility to take care of people? It's the government's responsibility to lead. The sooner everyone realizes that it is their own responsibility to take care of themselves, the sooner things will get better. People need to grow up, put on their big boy pants and make their own way in the world rather than looking around for someone to do it for them.
Spending was our savior, not our villain. 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
The problems facing this country are a direct result of conservative ideals that kill labor in the name of profit..Now they are just reaping what they themselves sowed, but if not for the timely spending of the government, we would be in a far worse position
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
I mean think about it. If the government overnight discovered a treasure and was able to pay off the entire debt, but nothing else changed... would you get a raise?? I know I wouldn't...Lots of people working at Walmart wouldn't, Those looking for a job, would they suddenly be handed one?? I don't think so. The economy would still be in the sh_tter. I'm sure plenty of RICH folks would have more money if their stock went up, but those are up already and still we have economic woes, so the government getting out of debt, either by a windfall, or by cutting is not the real issue. The debt is A problem, but it is not THE problem....On the other hand, if suddenly everyone made more income, if all those looking for jobs got them, then the government, almost overnight would have more revenue from increases in income tax, and the debt could be reduced or paid off. Spending or cutting is not the real issue, Incomes of the people are. The government is only broke because the citizens are broke, and THAT is the enemy to fight...Cutting spending, in itself, won't do the job....
Ed, if you put this government in charge of both the Sahara and Gobi deserts in 1 year or less there would be a shortage of sand. By all means keep spending CHINAS MONEY because america is broke.
What is your point?? I agree. America is broke because AMERICANS are broke, and because Americans are broke, we can't fund the government. Our Government debt is not causing the economic troubles, it is a result of them. Simply cutting spending will do nothing to solve the economic trouble the country is in. It is a seperate issue
Your on drugs arent you. Its ok to admit. The lean left crowd loves drugs they keep the world in a way they can understand. Take another hit brother.
And here is another person to ignore. "Gomer-1171917" I am perfectly willing to dicuss topics with anyone, in a serious way, but this sort of reply will get you the ignore button every time....Bye bye, Gomer.... I will have to read your drivel no longer LOL LOL
I can't believe the lies that continue to come out of God/King Obamas mouth, and even more unbelievable is the lame stream medias complicity. He said 4 years ago that the previous administration drove the economy into the ditch, not to worry because your messiah is here to fix it now. We are not only waiting for the great one to fix the economy, we are waiting on a budget, any plan at all to get this country back on track, but it seems like the inability, or incompetency of this administration is surpassed only by complicity of the media. King Obama I ask you, if the economy was driven into the ditch, why have you and your yes men and women blown the motor and transmission,flattened all the tires, broke all the windows and run it out of gas.
Paranoia : those unwillingly to provide the whole truth, in order to advance an agenda, contrary to the will of the people. because if the truth ever came out, it would upset the apple cart.
Those who disagree with the agenda are slandered and labeled or belittled without research or facts to substaniate their claims.
One of the biggest problems we have in America is the banking institutions regarding the Federal Reserve. Until you solve that ... it's like spitting into the wind.
Didnt he already get his revenue increases? Now he wants more increases to go with his "supposed cuts".
I see no ban on criminals or legislation to further enhance the exectutions of murderers.
Chicago would be a great place to start to round up thugs and criminals, many still there
I'm getting to dislike Obama and democrats, at least on fiscal issues, as much as I dislike republicans.
I don't see the problem. They made the deal - stand behind it. This is the only way we will get any spending cuts. Let our scumbag leader raise taxes on us again - that should finish off these socialist scum. When will they learn that it is a SPENDING problem, not a REVENUE problem? Why should they keep spending MY MONEY?????????
I agree DickB, only problem is it's not your money, it's Chinas.
China, like Japan holds only about a trillion dollars of the debt, no where near all of it.
People have asked this before but I've never seen the answer. Is Feisty Redhead an NBC employee?
If she is you will never ever get the truth out of her, you will get altered information though.
Produce a budget by March? Right! LMAO!
More revenue from a stalled economy...hmmmm... now where will that come from? Anyone look at what he wants to cut? The real list? Too funny. How about just cutting down on the double dipping waste and all the other garbage government has no business involved with. Nope, cut those veterans, cut the old and disabled.... no, not reform and better management of finances... just cut those benefits.... still want to vote for him? Oops, gotta go, I hear a drone overhead...
All of you chumps that voted for POTUS because he would protect the middle-class are getting more tax hikes now. You happy? It'll be excise taxes - more tax on gas, energy bills at home, groceries, tobacco, etc. etc. etc., ad infinitum.
We need more jobs! More jobs means more money to the IRS coffers. He doesn't get it. He has put small, medium and Fortune 1000 businesses in total bear mode. Large caps have laid of 10s of thousands to prop up their earnings - hence the rise in the stock market. Now they will have to rely on top line sales growth and bottom line earnings per share - and it's going to get ugly this earnings season.
The uniformed voters who elected POTUS are such dopes. They can't even see it.
rebel:
But they all got their Obamaphones. So they're happy.
And the beat goes on! ... www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aBaX9GPSaQ => Homer Simpson tries to vote for Obama
Washington is totally immune to the devastation they are causing this country. The media outlets spend time reporting on the latest shenanigans of entertainment "floozies" and disregard more important matters.
The Clinton, Bush (2), Obama era's have pushed America to the brink of financial collapse. Funding the war on terrorism by borrowing billions has reduced America's ability to fund services. An economy based on borrowing is bound to fail.
This is ridiculous! Four years with no budget, no real spending cuts, and a vague plan. I think they ALL need to be fired, from the president all the way down to the newest junior senator. Start over with 'fresh blood' who are actually interested in accomplishing something good for the country, not their bank accounts.
Ya, well it doesn't work that way....We all had our vote
Actually, Ed, it can. It's called "impeachment" and 'recall'. The power of this country lies with the people.
Ya, I know, but that will never happen. Not for current reasons anyway
Pathway to citizenship could increase Obamacare cost up to $300 billion over a decade
2:32 AM 02/05/2013
Any immigration package in which current illegal immigrants are made eligible for Obamacare — in the form of either exchanges or Medicaid — could increase costs to the federal government by between $120 billion to $200 billion in its first decade, according to internal calculations by the Republican side of the Senate Budget Committee that were obtained exclusively by The Daily Caller.
GOP Senate Budget Committee staffers explained to TheDC that the estimates assume that the law's provision capping total spending on exchange subsidies, which is set to begin in 2019, is enforced.
However, should the provision fall by the wayside, as some analysts believe it could, the staffers estimate the cost of Obamacare could increase between $210 billion to $300 billion over the next 10 years.
They add that if the capping provision is sustained, making millions of illegal immigrants eligible for Obamacare could also result in a benefit cut of approximately $1,100 annually for the average American receiving a subsidized benefit through the exchanges, which are now called "marketplaces" by the administration. (RELATED: Administration says "marketplaces" sounds better in Spanish)
Last March the minority side of the Senate Budget Committee estimated that Obamacare would increase unfunded obligations — or federal spending without a dedicated funding source — for federal health care programs by $17 trillion over 75 years, or from $65 trillion to $82 trillion.
Adding currently illegal immigrants, via a pathway to citizenship or other means, to Obamacare would further increase those unfunded obligations by another $2 trillion, based on their calculations.
To reach their conclusions, the staffers applied Congressional Budget Office estimates that 7 million illegal immigrants are without insurance, approximately 85 percent of whom have incomes low enough to qualify for the benefits — or less than 400 percent of the federal poverty line.
They further applied demographic data from the U.S. Census Current Population Survey to estimate that about half of the eligible illegal immigrants would be eligible for Medicaid, and the other half would be qualified for the subsidized exchange benefits.
Last week, TheDC reported the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating its welcome materials for new immigrants to include information about the president's signature health care law. (RELATED: Government gives immigrant materials a makeover)
The House Judiciary Committee is set to hold the first hearing on immigration for either chamber of Congress on Tuesday morning.
I read the same thing. Pretty unsettling. This country can NOT afford this.
Actually, we could. We give away to other countries over 50 billion EVERY year. If we can do that, we certainly can afford stuff for people on the way to being citizens of THIS country
I'd feel better if we cut of ALL foreign aid. We should be keeping the money here.
We agree there.... I don't think we should ever be saying no to American stuff for the reason we can't afford it, but then give money away to other countries
I've been in the defense industry my entire adult life. I say this: The hell with adding any more money to the DOD to help keep literally thousands and thousands of worthless do nothing employees in their so caled jobs. I'm telling you that if you think that there isn't a HUGE number of civilian government employee's that this government couldn't lay off right now... your a damn fool.
I, lie everyone else has already done our part to help start the budget deficit control program rolling by having to now pay more taxes.
I am an independent voter that voted for Obama this last time but I say it's time to start CUTTING THE DAMN DEFICIT MR> PRESIDENT! Not time to continue to add to it or ask the American taxpayer to pay more (Which he will) to continue to pay the thousands of worthless DOD government employee's already in place.
NO MORE TAXES BUDDY! START CUTTING NOW!!
the deficit has fallen almost 100 billion per year. If you mean the debt itself, state so.
Steve:
It's a little late to be getting religion now. The ship has sailed, and you helped fuel it.
And the beat goes on! ... www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltCIEbLMaQg => Mr Burns Election.
As an independent I find it harder and harder to watch the lack of leadership in Washington. It's the Presidents job to lead, regardless of party, it's his job to overcome any obstacle and bring his allies and foes together for the good of the country. I find it laughable that he's asking for more revenue which he know will divide Washington more than unite it. He's poking both sides and having them fight it out.
I'm not saying more revenue isn't needed, but it seems that the President already got extra revenue a month ago. Let's see some "real" spending cuts before I pay a cent extra in taxes.
if the congressmen don't want to follow a leader with a vision above their level of understanding, that is their perogative. And there is such a thing as stubbornness and stonewalling. the republican party is a sham of what it once was, Teas included. The rockefeller republicans are rolling over in their graves. As are lincoln and reagan.
Show me a leader we currently have who has a vision!
obama, clinton, Rand Paul (if he wasn't such an elitist pig), etc.
So to be clear Patrick, you are saying the President holds no accountability for the dysfunction in Washington?
Mat, if the pigs in the mud want to fight for glory and not listen to the general which reached across the aisle for two years and got nothing but bites, it's no longer his responsibility. This is a partisanship issue, and the democrats didn't become vicious until after they had their faces spat in for four years between mcconnell of the eternal fillibuster and then 2 years of boehner the incompetent, partisan divider. Pelosi may not be the most eloquent or most middle of the road politician, but she carries grace which neither republican leader seems to possess an ounce of. And at least reid chooses to not soil the senate floor with boehner's monopartisan bills. Where did the republican leader get even 30 democrat votes? Anything which doesn't piss off the fringes of both parties is bad legislation, and reid knows it. When boehner tosses the teas to the side and legislates from the middle, I'll put pressure on reid and obama. That has yet to happen.
Jeez Patrick anyone who thinks that of Pelosi doesn't have a unbiased bone in thier body, you have OD'd on the kool aide.
So your answer is no "The Presidents hands a squeaky clean for this mess in Washington under his watch."
My personal opinion is that all these knucklehead (all parties, all branches) in Washington, including our leader is to blame, and I'd be shocked if anything of value gets accomplished in the next 4 years or 10 years for that matter.
bill I already sad pelosi isn't the most moderate politician, but she actually addresses the republicans with respect when she talks, and she gets called a socialist witch (only half true) back. For pete's sake! I voted republican up until 2000. Now I'm independent all the way.
and mat, the president has the least power over governmental goings on on capital hill. Blame the chambers of congress in their entirety, and switch to new people, before you blame the guy with next to no power over anything except the military.
I appreciate you position, I just don't think the President is a powerless as you think.
Thanks for the clean exchange of ideas that are sometimes absent from these boards
Agree to disagree.
executive orders have a very narrow scope of application, and as far as obama's EOs being unconstitutional, they dance the line. Bush's went 5 miles over the line and where were the cries from his own party then? Non-existent.