With sequester looming, Congress takes a break
For weeks, leaders in Congress have emphatically warned they must avoid the deep, across-the-board spending cuts hitting the federal budget March 1. But with just two weeks left to avert the so-called sequester, members of Congress are leaving town for a week-long recess.
As they leave town, Democrats and Republicans are both predictably placing the blame on each other for the looming budget cuts, which amount to $1.2 trillion over 10 years. Both parties have, in fact, put forward their own ideas for averting the sequester, but the efforts so far have remained strictly partisan.
- Paul Ryan on sequester: "I think it's going to happen"
- White House warns sequester will hurt middle class
If no deal is reached by March 1, the Pentagon would have to start implementing a plan to cut its budget by about $500 billion over 10 years. Another $500 billion would hit non-defense programs. Economists agree the steep, across-the-board cuts would slow the economy. The White House recently laid out the ways the sequester would hurt the middle class, from slashing education programs to small business loan guarantees. Taking $1.2 trillion out of the economy would put close to a million jobs at risk, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated.
At this rate, however, it may take some economic damage to get Congress to work together.
"The sequester will be in effect until there are cuts and reforms that put us on a path to balance the budget over the next 10 years," House Speaker John Boehner said yesterday. "Period."
Democrats to unveil plan to avoid sequester
Dickerson on Dems' plan: "Lead balloon with anvil tied to it"
Democrats in both the House and Senate yesterday unveiled legislation that would replace the 10-year sequester for the rest of 2013 -- 10 months -- with $60 billion in spending cuts and $60 billion in new tax revenue. Most of the tax revenue would come from enacting the "Buffett rule," requiring those with incomes over $2 million to pay a tax rate of at least 30 percent.
White House spokesman Jay Carney released a statement calling it a "balanced plan."
"Now, Republicans in Congress face a simple choice," he said. "Do they protect investments in education, health care and national defense or do they continue to prioritize and protect tax loopholes that benefit the very few at the expense of middle and working class Americans?"
Republicans, however, insist they aren't going to vote for any plans that raise new tax revenue. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., yesterday dismissed the Democratic plan as a "gimmicky tax hike designed to fail."
House Republicans, meanwhile, note that they passed legislation last year to address the sequester. But since the Democratic-led Senate never picked them up, they'll now follow the Senate's lead.
- no previous page
- next
1/2
Popular in Politics
- IRS' Lerner: "I have not done anything wrong" 670 Comments
- Obama to view Oklahoma tornado damage Sunday
- Christie: Keep politics out of Oklahoma disaster relief
- WH says criticism of its handling of IRS story is "legitimate"
- Former Miss America might challenge McConnell
- House passes GOP bill to speed Keystone XL pipeline approval
- Officials on Benghazi: "We made mistakes, but without malice"
- Anthony Weiner comeback try begins: Running for NYC mayor 121 Comments
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 15
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That when the House adjourns on any legislative day from Friday, February 15, 2013, through Thursday, February 21, 2013, on a motion offered pursuant to this concurrent resolution by its Majority Leader or his designee, it stand adjourned until 2 p.m. on Monday, February 25, 2013, or until the time of any
reassembly pursuant to section 2 of this concurrent resolution, whichever occurs first; and that when the Senate recesses or adjourns on Friday, February 15, 2013, on a motion offered pursuant to this concurrent resolution by its Majority Leader or his designee, it stand recessed or adjourned until noon on Monday, February 25, 2013, or such other time on that day as may be specified in the motion to recess or adjourn, or until the time of any reassembly pursuant to section 2 of this concurrent resolution, whichever occurs first.
Sec. 2. The Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader of the Senate, or their respective designees, acting jointly after consultation with the Minority Leader of the House and the Minority Leader of the Senate, shall notify the Members of the House and the Senate, respectively, to reassemble at such place and time as they may designate if, in their opinion, the public interest shall warrant it.
Passed the House of Representatives February 15, 2013.
Attest:
Clerk.
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 15
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Providing for a conditional adjournment of the House of Representatives and a conditional recess or adjournment of the Senate.
What's WRONG with the sequester isn't JUST that it uses a meatax rather than a scalpel, making across-the-board cuts in most departments rather than targeting "waste, fraud, and abuse" and programs that don't work. What's even WORSE is that it takes the total spending-cuts goal -- $1.2 billion -- and divides it into 10 equal pieces. Why is that especially dumb? Because it assumes that the economy can cope with the proposed cuts equally well in all ten of those years. In fact, the economy CAN't cope with cuts equally well in all years: cuts should be SMALL in the EARLY years of that 10-year period, becoming large as the economy gets stronger.
And that is, in a sense, what the Democrats are proposing: easing back on cuts for the first couple of years, and then gradually increasing them.
But don't expect the Republicans to understand why THAT's a good thing! They're too busy protecting millionaires and billionaires from paying their fair share toward the economy that's made them so very rich!
Frankly, I tire of the selfsame story overa and over and the same posts.
Really, what is the point.
I guess you have to take a break in the sun and play golf and worry about the affairs of state another day. That worked last September 11....
Congratulations, Mr. President.. Can we get a couple of photos with you in your famous heaven-looking pose, Ping golf cap, under the debt clock, sir?