Sequester Cuts Likely to Remain in Place

This week, for the first time since the end of the government shutdown, budget talks between Democrats and Republicans began. The aim of the negotiations is to avert another government shutdown when temporary funding runs out January 15 and to raise the federal debt ceiling before the nation reaches its borrowing limit sometime in February.

Another budgetary consideration looms large, however: spending cuts mandated by the sequester. The cuts were designed to hit popular programs in an inconvenient way to force a budget deal (that never materialized). The military, federally-funded scientific research and other popular programs were hit hard.

Although the sequester never had the catastrophic effects on the economy that some politicians predicted — the economy has continued to grow — it has adversely affected the military and scientific research. Recently, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno said that only two of the military’s 42 combat brigades are fully trained and ready. And sequester cuts have damaged innovative research programs with the potential to gin up billions of dollars of economic activity for businesses across the U.S.

Although conservatives and liberals may argue about the relative effects of sequester cuts on the economy, there’s a strong consensus that these clumsy cuts are not the best way to go about reducing spending. But no matter how much both Republicans and Democrats dislike the sequester, they equally oppose the other side’s solution to replace it.

California

So what does that mean for California?

Via: California Political Review

Continue Reading.....

Appropriators’ Frustration Mounts as Sequester Festers

J

uly 31 was a fateful day: It was when House Republicans proved even they couldn’t govern under the sequester spending levels — and the day the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee finally had enough.

“The House has made its choice: sequestration — and its unrealistic and ill-conceived discretionary cuts — must be brought to an end,” Rep. Harold Rogers of Kentucky said after leadership was forced to pull the Transportation-HUD funding bill from the floor.

Rogers may have spoken first, but he is hardly alone in his frustration.

In the months between the bill’s canceled floor consideration and the resolution of the government shutdown, veteran GOP appropriators have grown increasingly vocal in their dissatisfaction.

“I’m a process guy, I believe in the process … and it goes for naught,” said appropriator Steve Womack of Arkansas. “We end up with continuing resolutions, and a lot of things we’ve done in our appropriations work is pushed aside.”

Appropriators pass bills with bipartisan cooperation through the committee and then watch them flounder on the House floor, where spending levels mandated by the sequester and the House-passed budget resolution are too deep for Democrats and some Republicans and not deep enough for others.

They watch their Republican peers vote for amendments to appropriations bills on the House floor that appeal to the far-right contingent of the party and then vote against final passage.

What’s more, Republicans on the Appropriations Committee feel the odds are stacked against them, with nothing likely to improve until their leaders agree to make some changes.

From their standpoint, and the standpoint of GOP aides familiar with the process, the chief reason appropriations bills can’t pass the House now is because of an unworkable topline number.

Via: Roll Call

Continue Reading.....

Obamas to Host Third Command Concert Since Sequester

President and Mrs. Obama Monday night will host their third “command performance” since the sequester began in March, grooving in the East Room to the sounds of Hispanic music.

Among the stars who will appear to serenade the first couple are Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin, Raul Malo, Prince Royce, Natalie Cole, Lila Downs, Arturo Sandoval, Romeo Santos, Alejandro Sanz and Marco Antonio Solis.

While workers are being furloughed throughout the government, services are cut, and White House tours remain on ice, private concerts for the Obamas somehow remain beyond the budget axe. The Obamas hosted a “celebration” of Memphis soul music in April and a tribute to Carole King in May.

Tonight’s Música Latina: In Performance at the White House is actually the second musical event featuring the Latino music, the first being what was billed as a “Fiesta Latina” on the South Lawn. Estafan also performed there, as she did during the Carole King concert.

Michelle has also invited 130 middle and high school students from around Washington to  take part during the day in an educational workshop,Celebrando el Ritmo Latino: The History of Latin Music. Some of the performers will drop by.

Tonight’s command performance, the 12th of the Obamas’ tenure, will be broadcast Tuesday, October 8 at 8:00 p.m. ET on PBS.

Via: White House Dossier

Continue Reading...

White House Warns Easter Egg Roll May Be Canceled

The next casualty of sequestration could be the Easter Bunny – at least according to a White House e-mail that recently landed in Capitol Hill inboxes.

The White House warned Congress that budget cuts could nix the annual Easter Egg Roll for kids, which is planned for April 1.

“[B]y using these tickets, guests are acknowledging that this event is subject to cancellation due to funding uncertainty surrounding the Executive Office of the President and other federal agencies,” the White House cautioned, according to two Capitol Hill sources who provided the language. “If cancelled, the event will not be rescheduled.”

The move reels back statements by White House press secretary Jay Carney last week that the egg roll would go forward, although he said that could change.

Via: Fox Nation

Read More