Posted on 09/15/2012 7:22:00 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
The Obama administration today laid out on paper - 400 pages of it - the details of $1.2 trillion in automatic spending cuts that would take effect at the end of the year unless Congress strikes a deal. The picture is not pretty.
Billions of dollars would be slashed from defense operations and maintenance programs, says the administration. Medicare would take a two-percent hit, trimming millions in payouts to health care providers. Scientific research programs would be gutted. Aid for the poor and needy would be sharply curtailed.
More than a billion dollars would even be wiped from the State Department's diplomatic and consular program, including $127 million for embassy security, construction and maintenance and $2 million for the protection of foreign missions and officials, according to the document.
"The report leaves no question that the sequestration would be deeply destructive to national security, domestic investments and core government functions," the administration writes in the report, which was submitted to Congress as required by law.
"Sequestration" is the technical name for the across-the-board spending cuts that were agreed to by bipartisan majorities in both chambers of Congress last year as a penalty for failing to achieve a deficit reduction plan. They take effect on Jan. 2, 2013, unless lawmakers come up with a different plan totaling $1.2 trillion.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Blame Harry Reid..”over and over and over.
Wouldn’t it be funny if the cuts were actually made and nobody noticed the difference?
The cuts won’t happen.
What we need is OcommieCare.
What we need is OcommieCare. /s
The Military budget could be managed better, but the reckless way in which this would be implemented isn’t in the best interest of National Security.
The dhimmis are going to scare people into believing that if only we could strike a deal w/ the dirty GOP, the cuts could be avoided.
The cuts cannot be avoided are are just the beginning.
So, what’s the down side?!?
My conclusion: One of the most Idiot-ridden administration’s in US presidential history. Stay tuned cause they are not finished. =.=
So, what’s the down side?!?
We don’t need National Security.
All we need is Social Security.
Any cut from Mochelle kitty?
And, at the same time....the spending on social programs, etc goes up something like 35%!!!!!!!!!!!
You reduce your ability to fight two major wars at a time to one, and then you find yourself in two major wars.
I would find having to learn Chinese or Arabic to be a downside. I have enough trouble with English.
“The sequester was designed to be bad policy,” said Carney. “To be onerous. To be objectionable to both Democrats and Republicans.”
Billions of dollars would be slashed from defense operations...
Reapportion what is left. Renegotiate that $20 million being spent in Afghanistan for firewood.
... and maintenance programs, says the administration.
I always have to prioritize the maintenance around my place. Should be the same around "the administration's" place.
Medicare would take a two-percent hit, trimming millions in payouts to health care providers.
"Millions" is a lot of money, but it ain't like it is all coming out of Marcus Welby's pocket alone. It is 2%, spread across the spectrum of providers.
Scientific research programs would be gutted.
Gutted? How about slowed down. Some of them should be dropped, anyway.
Aid for the poor and needy would be sharply curtailed.
This is a tuffy. Jesus did tell us, however that the poor will always be with us. However, if "aid" isn't "curtailed sharply" now, it will be eliminated later.
More than a billion dollars would even be wiped from the State Department's diplomatic and consular program, ...
Does this include foreign aid to places like egypt and libya?
...including $127 million for embassy security, construction and maintenance and $2 million for the protection of foreign missions and officials, according to the document.
Particularly poignant right now, huh? Turns out the bastages weren't appropriately using the money for security as it was. The money shouldn't be missed. Beyond that, lay off 1/2 of the State Department's complement of employees. That will leave fewer meddlers on the payroll.
"The report leaves no question that the sequestration would be deeply destructive to national security, domestic investments and core government functions," the administration writes in the report, which was submitted to Congress as required by law.
This should read, "...deeply destructive to national security, domestic investments and core government functions as we have known them.
Administration, get ready to meet your new world.
Well said and I like the idea more all the time. There should be more cuts and programs killed-—plenty of room in AG, EPA, DOJ, ED, and every other department I can think of. Much defense spending is long-lead-time and would get itself corrected before any real damage gets done. But Rand Paul pointed out just this week that if spending could just be frozen at current levels the budget would balance in about 8 years. I ask for a freeze every time I write to a politician but so far I seem to be the only one. One good tick up in interest rates tho and this whole 16 trillion dollar card house is coming down without serious cutbacks.
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