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Subscribe to RSSThe automatic spending cuts, just days away, would cut $85 billion a year, having an impact on federal food inspectors, TSA officers, Department of Defense and civilian workers. NBC's John Yang reports.
President Barack Obama used his bully pulpit Tuesday to warn of calamitous consequences for the U.S. economy should the automatic spending cuts known as the “sequester” go into effect next Friday.
The president warned that the automatic cuts, totaling about $85 billion over the course of this year, would prompt job losses, weakened national security and canceled government services – among other consequences.
“So these cuts are not smart, they are not fair, they will hurt our economy, they will add hundreds of thousands of Americans to the unemployment rolls,” Obama said in a statement at the White House. “This is not an abstraction; people will lose their jobs. The unemployment rate might tick up again.”
The speech featured no new, concrete proposal from the president detailing how he would prefer for Congress to replace the sequester.
NBC's Chuck Todd says it may feel as though the sky is falling (once more) but it's likely the spending cuts will go through March 1, the government will come up with a compromise deal, and they'll punt something else down the road.
Democrats in Congress released a plan last week that called for $55 billion in new revenues from closing tax loopholes and deductions, and additional cuts by $27.5 billion to each the defense and discretionary spending budgets over the course of the next decade.
Obama’s speech was otherwise spent reiterating points he’s made for the better part of the last two months. He said that any sequester replacement should be “balanced” – shorthand for a combination of new tax revenue and spending cuts – and Obama urged lawmakers to approve a shorter-term replacement for the automatic cuts if they couldn’t reach consensus on a broader package by the end-of-February deadline.
Rather, the president, who was flanked by first-responders whose jobs Obama said would be threatened by the sequester, was making use of political optics and the presidential bully pulpit to pressure Congress to act.
Still, the urgency appeared to have little effect on Republicans, who dismissed the president’s remarks as unserious about reaching a solution.
"Once again, the president offered no credible plan that can pass Congress – only more calls for higher taxes," House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said in a statement.
President Barack Obama voices harsh words toward Republican lawmakers Tuesday while speaking about looming budget cuts.
“Today's event at the White House proves once again that more than three months after the November election, President Obama still prefers campaign events to common sense, bipartisan action,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in a statement.
Indeed, many Republicans have treated the sequester as a fait accompli; Congress is out of town this week, and lawmakers would only have a handful of days next week to act upon the sequester. Some Republicans have also argued that even if the sequester is replaced, its $85 billion in cuts should set a baseline for offsetting cuts in other areas of the budget.
“I have to say, though, that so far, at least, the ideas that the Republicans have proposed asks nothing of the wealthiest Americans or biggest corporations,” Obama said of the GOP proposal. “So the burden is all on first-responders or seniors or middle-class families. They doubled down, in fact, on the harsh, harmful cuts that I've outlined.”
The president added, as if to drive home the point: “Well, that's not balanced. That would be like Democrats saying we have to close our deficits without any spending cuts whatsoever. It's all taxes. That's not the position Democrats have taken, that's certainly not the position I've taken.”
This story was originally published on Tue Feb 19, 2013 11:04 AM EST
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The pres created the problem in the first place. now he tries to blame everyone else. Normal for him.
How did the President create this problem? You know, as much as you hate to hear it, we are still paying for two unwanted wars. Try researching how we were duped into believing there were weapons of mass destruction. Yes, we were duped and this country was almost sent to bankruptcy. All because someone that will remain nameless had to prove a point. For what?? President Obama has tried time and time again to work with the Obstructionist Party to no result. All they want to do is protect the rich and the big corporations while they line their pockets with all those corporate dollars to protect those loopholes their cronies love so much. Why? They're greedy, that's why and they don't care about the rest of us. It's the Republicants that are destroying this country, not President Obama. Grow a brain!!
deflect much???
its always bush,,,get over it..obama has the lead now,,and the last 4 years..he owns the deficit and the debt..he needs to do his damn job,,or quit
If that wer true mountain... than why did the fed - geitner - obama's right hand man - bail out the banks and let them go free reign. Tell me why the SEC that obama is running directly with presidential oversite has not put one person in jail ? Why is john corzine out playn golf after he stole 1 billion dollars. We know who the liars are ..it aint the rule of law. I can tell you that.
Everyone agrees about the wars Lioness. And they are paid for... we borrowed money to pay for them. They are on the debt with the 6T that Obama just added. What was his excuse? The 6T didn't pay for wars... it paid for free stuff for takers. Even with the wars, Bush added less debt in 8 years than Obama added in 4 years.
And it was the Republicans that wanted to reform the tax code last year, but Obama wanted to raise tax rates which producted less revenue than tax code reform.
And to answer your question, the president caused this problem because he never passed a budget!!! We have 2.4T to run the government in the current economic climate. You can't spend 3.6T to pay for liberal nonsense and expand the size of the government. Obama promised to cut the deficit in half during his first term. Not even close.
No president has had 4 consecutive years of 1T+ deficits. It is unheard of. You can't pay down the debt until you create a surplus. You can't create a surplus until you cut the deficit. Obama continues to INCREASE spending.
Get out your calculator or take 5th grade math. You can't spend more than you make. Certainly not 1.2T a year more than you make.
djo...great post
It was not the wars that almost bankrupted this country. And it wasn't Bush that duped the world into thinking there were weapons of mass destruction. There was just google what Saddam did to the Kurds and other ethnic groups. And Saddam wanted the world to think he still had weapons of mass destruction, otherwise he would not have expelled the UN inspectors contrary to the cease fire agreement signed when the first Bush was in office.
The reason our debt is skyrocketing is because Obama is a weapon of math destruction.
he is not cutting anything..obama is a liar,,period...
if he does cut anything it will be the military paychecks..he is threating that already..
if he stops military pay its going to cause some serious crap..
You are a liar
Period
thats a fact about the military..but your head is so far up odumb ass butt you couldnt hear anything
@ Barney Blankenship:
You DO understand that this was the D-E-M-O-C-R-A-T-S idea. Don't you?
NEWS FLASH: ABC, CBS, CNN, and MSNBC do their fair share of propaganda too.
Too late. It already is.
And the beat goes on! ... www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ0Zx90mY8Y => Dr. Benjamina Carsona.
FroboseTF
It is ok with liberals to hate black men as long as they are republicans.
Charlie:
I know. But that's their problem not mine.
My problem is attempting to reason with as many people as possible.
And I'm sure I'm one of the hated, but whom they hate is not my concern.
And the beat goes on! ... www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlyelYetLAM => The devil went down to Washington.
it is becoming clearer by the day that the 'sequester' is the result of a secret deal between the republicans, the democrats and the president to force necessary cuts without any one of them getting the blame.
the chickens who run washington, in all quarters, are a bunch of lying, disgusting cowards.
Humm I was under the impression that police, fire salaries are paid by property taxes , and in some cases teachers salaries.
So how does the Federal Government's spending effect local town/city police, fire and teachers? Unless we are all being duped that the our property taxes pay for this and the Federal Government pays for every city, in every state that has a police department, fire department and schools via block grants.
Now if the Federal Government pays for 911 services via block grants, they might be affected, but the way President Obama talks, its that local police, local fire protection and local schools will be affected by the sequester, but that doesn't add up.
This is for Dennis who says he really wanted to see it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_budget_process
Obama OWNS this SEQUESTER.....no 2 ways about it
Everyone, just make sure that you and your family have stockpiled enough money under the mattress, in a safe, wherever you want it. You are going to need it to survive when all the crap hits the fan. The economy is truly in danger, and no one wants to do the right thing.
We are already heading to disaster! It might be too late. Don't expect any miracles from this administration. I don't see any willingness to change his ways from the past 4 years, so I predict more of the same and worse in this economy...
money under the mattress wont do any good when obama the idiot de-values the dollar
Dee Patriot I don't see a positive change coming at all.
Dont mess with texas: I guess I'll have to find me some gold then.
texsas:
President Obama has ALREADY significantly devalued the dollar.
At least MY dollars! Do your dollars by the same amount of goods, and services as they did in 2008?
And the beat goes on! ... www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aBaX9GPSaQ => Homer Simpson tries to vote for Obama
So you don't expect the GOP led house to do anything?
Well....Nobody does, but unfortunately there are ass clown radical right wingers who elect people to obstruct anything and everything
But in the mean time....
Dow up again today.
Thanks Obama for fixing the Bush/GOP disaster
fro
nope the dollar dont do what it used to,,unless its a food stamp,,you know the low information voter base of obama,,the food stamp prez
nick
not sure about gold either,,cant spend a dollar on gold if it has no value..im thinking ammo,,medical supplies,,trade items
The man whines and whines to the people on the threat to the economy from sequestration (a threat that came from him and his administration), but yet he and the Dems have no plan for spending cuts! And he will blame Republicans if the sequestration goes in effect and our economy gets even worse! What a guy you libs can look up to. Must be hard to defend this man....
you cant tell the libs that....lol the worship the all powerful apeman..he will lead us to salvation
right after he leads us into gas showers..
cant you see the conection libs???????????????????????????
hahahhahaa you voted for it,,,,you got it,,,now own it
More importantly... DID OBAMA HAVE A GOOD TIME PLAYING GOLF WITH TIGER WOODS THIS WEEKEND!! Lets get our priorities straight. LOL for a President who plays golf on Monday and then cries foul on a the loss off jobs he agreed to on Tuesday!
Yes, so much for his speech on shared sacrifices. So long as the sacrifices do not pertain to him...
obama didnt golf,,he went with tiger to score some hookers..i mean have you seen obamas husband,,thats one ugly man
Of course, Obama is a government-flunkie Democrat. He thinks only of the effect of the economy upon government, and cannot grasp that most people would rather the government went broke.
Government first and always for Obama, no one else ever matters.
Meanwhile: People are hungry, jpbless, and homeless.
Without representative government, you would have either tyranny or anarchy. Which would you prefer?
anarchy...lets go..the libs will be the first victims..all those no gun zone signs..its a target rich enviroment
jeff d bought a bag of clueless and smoked the whole thing.
Likely sold to him by deepatriot at the don't mess moron.
hahahahhahahahahahhahahahaha
Lot of clueless floating around the right wing these days.
Sarah Palin anyone?
ahahhahahahahahhahaha
I guess that Our Dear Leader President MANDATE and the ARM and ARMETTES took seperate weekend trips before the sequester might turn off the vaccations for a while if there isn't enough money for all the aircraft required for Our Dear Leader to go one direction and the ARM to go another. And if the Secret Service furlows agents there might not be enough agents to cover Our Dear Leader the AR<M and the ARMETTES.
What does "UNS" stand for?
174 Republicans voted for the sequester. This week, they're on vacation! They complain about not having a plan, yet when the Democrats propose one, it's not even considered. It's their way or the highway! The party of the financial collapse and deficit spending looks to everyone but themselves for blame. Priceless.
At this point, they might as well vote for the sequester. Even that is better than the worst case scenario of no spending cuts at all which we would have gotten if there were no sequester. The Republicans at this point should just sit back and see what the Dems do about addressing cuts and if they don't, at least some will be kicking in (even if I am not happy with them, better than no cuts)!!
So you don't get it do you?
Rhetorical question
The Democrats plan has cuts and new revenue in it. The GoP only want cuts. You don't stimulate an economy with cuts alone.
They've already voted for sequester. If they do nothing to modify it, it takes effect automatically.
That sentence made you post a little confusing. You started out harping on the republicans out then you posted the above about the democrats.
I am all about Obama's golf game while the country adjusts to his sequester plan!!! Bring it on Mr Obama. You signed on and voted for this plan and now you complain about the results.. Grow some balls for what you supported!
And Obama is the only one complaining about the GOP led sequester?
hahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahha
Yeah.......Just complain and do nothing.....
The GOP way of today
Both of the "a's" in Obama stand for arrogance. He is without a doubt the most divisive (and unqualifiued) individual to ever be elected president. He really believes that he knows what's best for all of us, whether we think so or not. The only way he knows how to solicit bipartisan support from Congress is public grandstanding and threats of executive orders. I hope this blows up in his face - maybe that will enable him to realize he's not the king.
Obama is a tool and those drinking his Kool-Aide are doomed as well. It was Obama and Lew who initially recommended the sequestration in the first place. Washington has a spending problem so either lower our debt or take a hit on our credit rating which would drive up inflation. What fools they are
Odrama Queen proposed this now that it is happening he doesn't want it. And instead of the spending cuts the group originally worked on he wants more tax increases. That is his answer to everything, taxes. Won't even hear of any spending cuts. Billions could be saved by cutting all unnecessary spending. But instead he chooses to call for more taxes. Theres your hope and change, taxes. He thrives on creating drama to get what he wants like a 6 year old girl, a little Odrama Queen. Pathetic.
If it looks like manure and it smells like manure, then it is manure. But I don't see any call for dragging men and women in uniform into it. They work, he doesn't.
From the first day in office, Obama has been a totally worthless Mother Fu*ker.
Boy the sour grape Republican dimwits are out in force.
How bout that Great Recession- Yep you sure did build that.
Now go away and let the grown ups fix your mess.
After ur last president and the last two choices as canidates your credibility is Zilch.
Now run along
johnny you are just a sprem burpping gutter obama whore..do the world a favor,,get some rope and jump,,you freakin loser
The worst recovery in history, by Barrack Odrama Queen. Your grown ups are more like six year olds. He has had 4 years now, it ain't fixed moron. And it won't be until he leaves office.
How is it the grownups say? If you think you're gonna get raped, pee yourself or go to a safe zone? But if you pull a gun you might just be imaging that you are gonna get raped and you'll just "pop off" with that gun and shoot someone. You "grownups are messed up.
Hey Tex thats the nicest thing youve ever said to me. Thanks
Worst recovery why?
Total Republican obstruction in Congress perhaps?
You fools dont have a clue.
The economy performs better during Democratic administrations than during Republican administrations.
The GDP grows an average of 4.3% annually under Democrats and only 2.7% under Republicans. Employment grows 2.8% under Democrats and only 1.3% under Republicans. (Amer. Inst. for Econ. Resrch. Research Reports, Vol. LXXV, No 17, Oct. 6, 2008.)
The employment data shifts more in favor of Democrats following the financial meltdown that was sponsored by the Bush administration.
If you support a President that supports drone attacks and drone spying on US citizens.
If you support a President that wants to limit your right to own a gun.
If you support a President that has never submitted a budget of any kind.
Then this country is in worst shape than I thought.
Worst recovery because his policies and proposals have paralyzed businesses. He has made the private sector the enemy unless you're a big time donor and have a useless "green" energy company.
when are the libs gonna figure out that the apeman and his husband are destroying america??
they say they hate america,and still get votes,,,if you really beleive obama,,MOVE,,,this is america,,wanna live in a @!$%# hole move to mexico,,,obama is letting them here with no questions,,when they are all here,,we will just take mexico
Funny you called Obama an 'apeman"
Who is you're racist diety these days?
Hitler is long gone
Who do racists bigots worship these days?
Last year the House sent two bills to the Senate that would have stopped Obama's sequester Harry Reid promptly sat on them.
This is Obama's mess.
Please don't confuse them with fact....it makes their little heads explode................
yes it is..so is moochelle,,thats obamas mess also..thats one ugly man michelle
So the racist radical right comes out to prove why America hates the racist radical right
Maureen -
If only...
I suppose it's a shame that it's come to this, but the national debt now stands at more than $16.5 trillion.
The national debt IS the big white elephant in the room! If left to stand, it will crush the U.S. economy.
Radical funding cuts (sequester is simply not the correct term) must occur to reverse and bring down this debt.
The people who are squawking about the loss of a paycheck need to understand they should have NEVER been hired in the first place. Wasn't it nice while it lasted?
yhea pretend prezzzz