When does the sequester start? Don't ask Washington

Leaders in Washington know they are approaching the moment when the so-called sequester spending cuts are set to take effect -- but they apparently are confused about when exactly that moment is.

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When exactly does the sequester begin?

The White House confirmed today that President Obama will meet with congressional leaders to discuss the sequester on Friday, the day the sequester takes effect. That spurred congressional Republicans to criticize the president for scheduling a meeting after the sequester starts. Aides to both Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, told CBS News that the sequester officially becomes law at 12 a.m. ET on Friday - that's midnight from Thursday into Friday.

Shortly after that, White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters, "My understanding is it happens at midnight on Friday, 11:59." In other words, the White House meeting would take place just before the sequester takes effect, not after.

In fact, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (H.R.8 and Public Law 112-240) lays out the timing this way, in Section 901(e): "Sequester- On March 1, 2013, the President shall order a sequestration for fiscal year 2013 pursuant to section 251A of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985."

• Obama to meet with congressional leaders at sequester deadline
• White House not "hopeful" sequester will be averted

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Boehner: Dems have "simple" task to avoid sequester

Congressional sources tell CBS that this effectively means the sequestration starts when Mr. Obama wants it to. By law, he must sign an order to start the sequestration some time - anytime - on Friday. At that point, the Office of Management and Budget will release a report on the specifics of agency cuts.

As the president has stressed in recent days, the sequester won't happen "overnight." March 1 is the start of the gradual implementation of the cuts, which will be enacted at varying degrees of speed and impact depending on the government agency.

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

Republicans are hellbent on making life harder and harder for average americans. They never support programs that help average americans but they fall over themselves helping corporations and the wealthy. No republican voted to extend unemployment benefits but the couldn't vote fast enough to extend tax cuts for coporations and the wealthy. Average americans must STOP SUPPORTING REPUBLICANS.

Republicans hate government and they enter it to cripple and destroy it. That has been the republican mantra reagan rode to the white house. Republicans have been pushing that mantra ever since. The sequester is their wet dream. We'll see how clean they come out from their dirty deed.

[stamicrach]

Don't ask Washington ANYTHING if you want an honest answer.

The Education Director said that avoiding the sequester is not "rocket science", but you can't expect any answers from people who can't even make a soda bottle explode.

Congress has dumbed themselves down so much; they can barely figure out where their azzes are with both hands.

[nsamarshall]

The President is fooling nobody! He is a Marxist-Leninist in league with Putin and Iran! The movie 2016 was correct.. He will be removed from power by the National Security Agency, the shadow government... Not by impeachment!!!

[cab_351]

every one must remember when this was made law,congress and senate voted for it in exchange for the raising of the debt limit,,they brought it on themselves,,all of them not just one party! now in the next few elections,,lets all be bi partisan and vote out all career politicians instead of acting like congress and voting on party lines,,,EVERY ONE OF YOU ARE ACTING LIKE A BUNCH OF ******* IDIOTS,,JUST LIKE OUR WHOLE GOVERNMENT,both parties have been flip flopping,supporting big money corporations,taking subsidies,voting themselves raises,getting paid of for voting certain ways,getting rich of of all tax payers!it does not matter what party is in charge of what part of gov,,the 99% are gonna lose every time!,,look at ur repubs now that they got their ***** kicked in nov.,,,they are now willing to support illegal immigration and gay marriage ,,just to get the power back! its already in the plan,,they will tank the economy again by 2018 ,,no matter who is in control!

[cab_351]

washingtons definition of sequester and fiscal cliff and bi partisan talks and filibuster;to take or hold hostage votes,monies,items,policies or bills essential to operation of government or growth of economy. used by both parties in congress and senate

[Ulgnud]

Congress left the timing of the sequester to someone who can't even produce a US Budget proposal for 4 years now. Just when I thought Congress could not be anymore stupid.

[Observe_and_Question]

Isn't the Senate suppose to produce a budget for the Prez to sign? Not that either one is not stupid for failing to plan for an event that everybody knew was going to happen 3 months ago.

[RBP917]

Google Bob Woodward for the answer!

[Alliterated]

Since the govt has started releasing illegal aliens already -and blaming it on the sequester their POTUS suggested- it must be in effect already. Or, is it really legal to turn them out before the budget cuts actually happen?

If your electric bill budget is cut by 10% , does that mean you have to reduce your next bill payment by the same amount? No, it means you start turning off the electricity being wasted in your home or business to effect a 10% cut in your next bill.

[harv823]

Let's hope that the Republicans secede and start their own country called dumazzland!!

[mjvwsr]

Wish we could.

[Ulgnud]

It would be nice to find a pl;ace to go. Then you liberals can live in the cesspool you are making of what is left of America.

[youcanfixstupid]

Just one tiny little flaw in your argument. In order to filibuster, you actually have to have something to filibuster against; i.e., a BILL. The Senate hasn't presented a budget bill in four years. The House has passed several that Reid has refused to bring to a vote in the Senate. THAT's why there hasn't been a budget passed.