Sequestration reclaims the national spotlight

[ProSense]

Sequestration reclaims the national spotlight

By Steve Benen

FAA furloughs caused by the sequester were resolved late last week, after Congress leapt to action to stop flight delays nationwide, but that didn't stop the Republican Party from using its weekly address to condemn the Obama administration's handling of the issue...accusing the White House of engaging in a conspiracy -- President Obama, it said, wanted to "inflict pain" on the public on purpose -- and lying about the policy's origins. The GOP message also suggested the Republicans' Twitter hashtag helped resolve the problem, which is a pretty silly argument.

But the fact that the party's weekly message was devoted to sequestration in the first place reinforces a larger point: the policy is back in the national spotlight. Indeed, President Obama devoted his weekly address to the same topic.

For those who can't watch clips online, Obama argued that this policy is about more than just delayed flights.

"Congress passed a temporary fix [for the FAA]. A Band-Aid. But these cuts are scheduled to keep falling across other parts of the government that provide vital services for the American people. And we can't just keep putting Band-Aids on every cut. It's not a responsible way to govern. There is only one way to truly fix the sequester: by replacing it before it causes further damage. [...]

"I hope Members of Congress will find the same sense of urgency and bipartisan cooperation to help the families still in the crosshairs of these cuts. They may not feel the pain felt by kids kicked off Head Start, or the 750,000 Americans projected to lose their jobs because of these cuts, or the long-term unemployed who will be further hurt by them. But that pain is real."

The "Band-Aid" point is of particular significance because there's renewed clamoring in Washington right now for a series of related "fixes." Soon after the sequester took effect, Congress delivered a reprieve for meat inspectors; then the military was given some additional leeway; then the FAA was permitted to move funds around. Now, all kinds of industries and agencies are wondering, "What about us?"

The smart move would be to either kill or replace the policy that's hurting the country on purpose. That's easier said than done...Republicans have not yet decided whether they like the sequestration cuts themselves. Late last week, GOP officials continued to celebrate the sequester, which the party has long characterized as a "victory." But in the party's weekly address, the Republican message was that sequestration "is bad policy" and "the wrong way" to go.

- more -

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/04/29/17969341-sequestration-reclaims-the-national-spotlight

Cancer Clinics: Congress Should Have Restored Our Sequester Cuts Before Addressing Airport Delays
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/04/28/1931541/cancer-clinics-congress-priority-sequester/

Unanimous Consent-- If Not Courageous
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022763819

[ProSense]

1. Kick! n/t

[spanone]

2. another Kick!

[ProSense]

3. Kick! n/t

[sheshe2]

4. Kick! nt

[reformist2]

5. It's about time!

[sheshe2]

6. Back in the national spotlight and we need to keep it there!

The party is going to have to make up its mind. If it's "bad policy," why is the GOP boasting about its efficacy? For that matter, why aren't Republicans working on a solution?

Thanks, ProSense

[DCBob]

7. Those who thought the sequester was an exaggerated non-issue being hyped by the President...

got it completely wrong.