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A timeline of Obama's sequester mess
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How did it come to this?
- Duration 10:18
- Date Feb 22, 2013
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How did it come to this?
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The clock is ticking on the budget -- that is not a sequestration.
That's the poison pill that was supposed to force a spending compromise because it was thought to be such a bad idea that nobody would ever actually let it happen.
But the march 1 deadline has now days away with no last minute deal on site.
So let's take a look back and see how we got into this mess.
Now this all began two years ago as negotiations broke down between the president and congress over raising the that ceiling.
July 2011 with a budget and debt ceiling negotiations stalled the leaders from both parties try to force a compromise now Bob Woodward's book the price of politics details a White House idea to guarantee.
That their plan would lead to results now on the road.
At 2:30 PM Jack glue and rob neighbors went to the senate to -- with Harry Reid and his chief of staff David -- We have an idea for a -- -- said.
What's the idea Reid asked skeptically sequestration.
That's the beauty of the -- they said it's so ridiculous that no one ever wants it to happen.
It was a bomb that no one wanted to drop it actually would be an action forcing event.
Going to be able would come to some agreement.
With the White House and this and we've been willing to say that there could be sequestration.
Has the longest and included some revenue.
Having automatic cuts would slash both defense and domestic spending both sides claim victory -- got 90% of what I wanted to.
I'm pretty -- Leaders of both parties in both chambers.
Have reached an agreement.
It establishes a bipartisan committee of congress to report back by November tough cuts that both parties would find objectionable.
Would automatically going to affect if we don't act.
-- -- -- -- National security threats.
Is that this functionalities.
The congress.
November 2011.
As the Thanksgiving deadline looms President Obama heads to Hawaii -- culprits and that over the next several days.
The congressional leadership.
On.
Super committee.
-- bite the bullet and do what needs to be -- but the super committee collapses.
Fact of the matter is and Democrats have not coalesced around any class.
Thanksgiving comes and goes and no deal is reached.
February 2012 Republican senators proposed alternative cuts to prevent the -- from slashing defense Democrats say no way some members of congress.
Promise to their constituents were holding our own.
Feet to the fire.
My fellow Americans and then a few months later decided.
We didn't really mean let's change that.
That's not how -- -- he should keep their word suddenly I know wants to take credit for the sequester the sponsors.
Not something that I proposed something the congress has proposed it what -- happen but as the march 1 deadline grows closer.
Everyone tries to get father and -- away from blame this request -- of the president's idea.
His party needs to follow through.
Sequestration.
Is a Republican policy.
And it is a bad policy put this to rest whose idea was the sequester.
First of -- -- it was the White House but let's be clear.
Republicans embrace it.
Every member of the house Republican leadership voted for the president's part of them sequestered.
The White House recommended frankly I don't know why it is in the central -- stuff to last night.
And joining us Sanjay -- low from the American center for law and justice and former Ohio democratic congressman Fox News contributor Dennis Kucinich guys welcome back to the program multi -- to -- It's not -- see you -- thank you you know it matters who did.
In terms of putting this idea forward with the -- of the senate it does matter doesn't it.
Because this was the president's idea that shouldn't be in dispute and now -- saying all these horrible things about it it's a little ironic little hypocritical.
For -- to go out there and -- when he himself proposes that.
I.
I think there -- the White House never expected that.
The sequestration and actually happened I thought that it would be looked at as a negotiating strategy for what you have on your earlier report is absolutely right.
And his ideas start with the White House they took it to the democratic leadership in the senate.
The leaders in both Democrat and Republican Party in the house and the senate signed -- to this the president signed the bill on the law which set the super committee.
And also set in motion a process and it's a super committee failed.
We go to seekers secrets -- It was just normal election strategy though the president did this because he wanted to get reelected didn't -- to have to face raising the debt ceiling and yet no not really the cause of this I.
You know what you -- what.
Causes me to -- your question yes is -- you look at the exchange between.
Barack Obama and Mitt Romney and the August 22.
2012 debate.
Where President Obama disclaim any involvement ended in the -- so at some point they decided they added.
Get away from the sequester it was an election edition -- is that they're -- for that now -- stuck.
In -- -- -- -- -- why I didn't get -- call things what they are part of it that's that's seem to be a bald face -- object.
It it familiar -- absolutely correct I mean this was the president the president owns this he owns sequester but -- I think there's a another point here that has to be made.
You know some have said that this is a manufactured crisis this is a -- crisis this -- in a real crisis.
These sequestered cuts are not going to and our republic as we know it number one.
Number two the president as you said owns this.
It was his idea he thought it would never happen well guess what.
He gets a revenue increase he doesn't wanna make cuts now it's happening so it's his own poison pill that he's being forced to swallow here and it's going to be very interest -- see how they try to you know -- trying to put put this off for the Republicans now but that that is not gonna work no one's.
The buy back right.
Everybody I think in this audience is sophisticated enough.
Congressman to know what baseline budgeting is.
Where government projects these massive increases every year.
We're borrowing over a trillion dollars a year 46 cents of every dollar we're borrowing.
And this year is budget -- all the president and as demagoguing and doom and gloom and -- predictions.
Where has spent more money this year that we spent last year.
And he acts as -- all this is a Mayan apocalypse.
That the book of revelation isn't as the seals have been open.
And that the that the -- and fury felt the final days is upon us that's just it cannot be true why does he know that.
Us.
Well shine when things get down to partisan politics and more truth.
-- -- parcel of one party -- the other party.
We got a problem and that's where we're at with the sequester.
The biggest the bigger question is what are -- to do about our country how -- gonna get the economy going how to get people back -- -- -- -- -- small businesses moving again.
But he -- larger questions are totally being ignored -- And -- what what I find astonishing shot is set at this very time that we're concerned about how we're spending money.
And we're concerned about the defense budget we're getting ready to send 4000 US troops to 35 different countries in Africa.
To start to get involved error and we can't even take care of things here at home we're gonna start -- -- America how to run their affairs I don't get it.
I don't get Washington -- -- sec hello and I think everything should be measured through this -- Is -- worse.
Breaking open our children's piggy back because that's the president's basically.
There's a generational theft -- stealing from our kids so we can't cut 85 billion dollars.
Out of three point eight trillion that we're spending.
This is a lost cause will never balance -- but that's why keep.
Yeah that's why I keep saying and I think Dennis agrees with us I mean this is based in one sense.
This is not a manufactured crisis again it's a great price it's it's -- -- crisis this isn't going to change anything.
-- to -- was to go into effect.
But what has to be reiterated here is the politics of Washington.
Have done this and it's the president.
Who initiated this this was the president's idea this was his staff's idea by the way now that can be secretary does secretary -- this was -- idea.
To put this in place and -- there really having to deal with it.
-- JJ shot I wanna make good you know I agree with you would -- There will be consequences that are going to be made based on the decisions when -- -- talking about cutting.
And that will precipitate some real crises we -- obviously gonna hand it may stars of fires but it could and there's a tragedy.
You know -- -- pointing out something congressman that few Democrats seem to -- will at a point now that we keep accumulating this that.
Eventually.
And the markets -- -- say what and we don't really trust bought lending you money anymore.
And there's only so much the Federal Reserve couldn't -- frankly they've done enough damage is it is.
And does America then begin the spiral down towards Greece where the -- my fear is one day these cuts will calm but they will be imposed on us just like -- just like Spain we just like vitally important to look.
-- the united state.
-- America we're not going to accept that kind of an austerity program we're not gonna go down the tubes.
We've got to fight back what we cap which to work together and the president to work with the cameras and this all this partisan -- if you are out of the man.
This is secure crystal is here and water how do you -- you know somebody like that.
Like this to say this is what ahead and let -- and reality is wait a minute Paula this is what happens when partisanship runs -- mark I mean they're.
Cooler heads will prevail at some point and you shouldn't be attacking people we're gonna end up having to work with this is a fundamental flaw on the approach is being used.
And the presidents of the -- that -- politics of this.
-- but the policy that's the politics -- but the reality is this ask yourself this questions what I'm asking myself.
We've got this real serious fiscal crisis in this country no doubt about Dennis just said it we all agree.
So why.
Asked ourselves this and you've been covering the -- why are we sending.
But F sixteens were -- -- it from the Chinese.
To go can give money to the Muslim Brotherhood government.
It would including F sixteens -- -- -- sixteens -- 200 -- ask yourself why are we doing this and that kind of fiscal spending is out of control and that.
What comes to roost on us and our children and our grandchildren we got an hour we believe very concerned about where -- come back work.