Changes

The Executive impoundment of Congressionally mandated funds, i.e., a president's refusal to spend money appropriated by Congress, had a long history. But after President [[Richard Nixon]] refused to spend money appropriated by Congress for [[Lyndon Johnson|Johnson-era]] [[Great Society]] programs, Democratic President [[Jimmy Carter]] signed legislation passed by the Democratic controlled Congress making it illegal for a president not to spend money appropriated by Congress. By 1985 it became apparent some form of budgetary restraint was necessary.  Sequestration was designed as a [[deficit]]-reduction forcing mechanism, so that unless the President and Congress cooperate each year to reduce the deficit by prescribed amounts, a “sequestration” order would reduce funds down to a mandated figure.<ref>http://law.justia.com/constitution/us/article-2/37-impoundment-of-appropriated-funds.html</ref>

The Executive impoundment of Congressionally mandated funds, i.e., a president's refusal to spend money appropriated by Congress, had a long history. But after President [[Richard Nixon]] refused to spend money appropriated by Congress for [[Lyndon Johnson|Johnson-era]] [[Great Society]] programs, Democratic President [[Jimmy Carter]] signed legislation passed by the Democratic controlled Congress making it illegal for a president not to spend money appropriated by Congress. By 1985 it became apparent some form of budgetary restraint was necessary.  Sequestration was designed as a [[deficit]]-reduction forcing mechanism, so that unless the President and Congress cooperate each year to reduce the deficit by prescribed amounts, a “sequestration” order would reduce funds down to a mandated figure.<ref>http://law.justia.com/constitution/us/article-2/37-impoundment-of-appropriated-funds.html</ref>

===Example of sequester===

===Defense reductions===

Upon [[President Barack Obama]]'s election in 2008, self-identified communist and [[Progressives for Obama|Progressive activist]] [[Mark Rudd]] observed,  

Upon [[President Barack Obama]]'s election in 2008, self-identified communist and [[Progressives for Obama|Progressive activist]] [[Mark Rudd]] observed,  

{{Cquote|Obama is a very strategic thinker. He knew precisely what it would take to get elected and didn't blow it. He used [[community organizing]] methods... And I agree with this strategy. Anything else will court sure defeat. Move on the stuff you can to a small but significant extent, gain support and confidence. Leave the military alone because they're way too powerful. For now, until enough momentum is raised. By the second or third year of this recession, when stimulus is needed at the bottom, people may begin to discuss cutting the military budget... <ref>http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/mark-rudd-lets-get-smart-about-obama.html</ref>}}

{{Cquote|Obama is a very strategic thinker. He knew precisely what it would take to get elected and didn't blow it. He used [[community organizing]] methods... And I agree with this strategy. Anything else will court sure defeat. Move on the stuff you can to a small but significant extent, gain support and confidence. Leave the military alone because they're way too powerful. For now, until enough momentum is raised. By the second or third year of this recession, when stimulus is needed at the bottom, people may begin to discuss cutting the military budget... <ref>http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/mark-rudd-lets-get-smart-about-obama.html</ref>}}