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Congressional Republicans led by House Speaker Boehner have one message for Pres. Obama: You created the spending crisis, so fix it
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-- -- -- If you are reckless enough to create a crisis for the nation you had better know how to fix it.
Whose idea was to sequester and did you ever think that -- actually get to this point the first of maybe it was the White House.
First of all this -- is not something that I proposed something the congress has proposed it will not happen.
Everyone should be clear.
That's sequestration.
Is a Republican policy and it is a bad moments.
All I can say is the commander in chief came up with the idea of sequestration from.
The president is part of them.
This restaurant the White House recommended and frankly it was requested by the president and it was his idea signed into law by him first of all -- -- Not something that I propose something the Congress's proposed it will not happen.
This request from the president's idea in the origination -- must originate here at my house.
This question was something that was disgusting and has been reported it was an idea -- been.
The White House put forward well first of -- it was the president signed dale what this question was.
Was proposed -- -- the -- a couple of years ago.
First of all this -- is not something that I propose something that congress has proposed they won't -- happen.
What I will concede is that we were looking and the Republicans were looking for a trigger a round which -- Build the mechanism to get us out of default possibility right and it's a -- was one of that ideas put forward yes by the president's team.
And now the list house majority leader Eric Cantor outlining what he calls the Republicans common sense alternatives to automatic cuts.
And his website leader Kantor pointed out all -- so wasteful government spending now here funeral expenses he says should go on the chopping block first free cell phones.
This program costing taxpayers that means you 2.2 billion dollars this year alone.
Next a TV studio at the IRS now can you tell me why the IRS needs a TV studio and how much is as silly studio costing -- Try this four million dollars a year.
Then what's all the conferences do we really need them federal agencies -- for a 183 conferences over the last few years.
You know those are cheap -- the GSA conference in Vegas and while with a guy and the fact I'm.
-- that one cost about a million dollars.
Since -- pay to play video games the national science -- -- campaign senior citizens one point two million dollars to play video games.
Whatever happened to shuffle board and -- that's free.
Why did you ever chief political correspondent Byron York joins us good evening Byron good evening and we're approaches march 1 day but let me get something straight cannot sequestration just so I understand.
When we hit march 1 of sequestration goes into effect -- not cutting back we're really talking about not spending as much as we thought we went right.
The sequestration is not an actual cut in government spending it's not as if government spending is gonna go down like that it's actually gonna go up.
It's gonna go up a little less quickly in a little less -- -- -- would have without sequestration.
Then why in the world of people talking about things like pink slips for employees because it seems to -- if we're not cutting we're actually going up just as much -- Hollywood.
Why would anyone even lose a job what is anything why would -- readiness to be at risk in terms of military why Kennedy we were right to where we.
Nor -- there shouldn't be a lot of federal employees who do loses job there's a lot of talk about.
Furloughs we've talked about for example in the Defense Department.
-- civilian employees.
Being furloughed for 22 days in the next six months which basically means they would work on Friday for the next six months.
But in terms of people losing their jobs you're talking about projections -- -- federal agency makes for how much they're gonna spend over the next year.
What it's gonna cost and what cost of living increases are gonna give their employees and all that and they're gonna have to cut back on themselves.
Sitting get raises no -- give thanks of referral essentially right thank you okay.
Right -- today -- you get shout out at the White House by the Press Secretary Jay Carney let's let's listen to them.
Why would Republicans support a measure that threatens national security and thousands of jobs.
The effective -- argument as to make President Obama seemed reasonable.
After all the president certainly agrees with -- that the -- cuts threaten national security jobs the difference is that Obama wants to avoid them.
Couldn't set a better that was Byron York.
Well well it's not honor you get every -- -- what can I say.
He he that was exactly what I wrote but it wasn't all that I wrote I mean what I've basically road was.
Why is John Boehner.
Subscribing to the same rhetorical talking points as the Democrats on this I mean Boehner in his Wall Street Journal op Ed came out and said.
This sequester.
Will do enormous damage.
To US national security and two jobs he said it was detrimental to both of those things which is president Obama's position entirely instead of saying.
That the sequester is a relatively small first step.
Toward getting the federal spending under control in a way that would ultimately help the -- economy.
Can we get back to my first question if sequestration really isn't a cut but it just slowed growth.
How do we lose jobs you'd think we'd at least have the same job -- which is well maybe get as many who might have we've spent some money out there are and how to as it impedes national security for at this at the status well.
Well they're also talking as far as jobs are concerned and the larger economy if the government spends less of -- larger economy.
Then it would cost some jobs overall as far as media -- group of seven cost exactly as far as the military is concerned.
I mean there's a lot of controversy about this you have a lot of Republicans who were against sequestration.
Solely on the grounds of cuts to the federal government excuse me to the Defense Department.
And you've heard today Leon Panetta talking about -- hundreds of thousands of from workers.
Who will be furloughed and talked about the damage to combat readiness I would say there's an OMB report which is from the white house office of management budget.
Which says that they believe that does -- us secretary of defense and the president to do have the discretion to move money from around.
So that combat readiness would not be effective any -- -- thank you thank you.
