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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>
===Defense reductions===
==2013 Obama sequester==
President Obama's sequester originated as a proposal by Obama to Senate [[Democrat]] Majority Leader [[Harry Reid]] relayed by then [[White House]] budget director [[Jack Lew]] to cut [[entitlement]] and defence spending<ref>[http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-02-22/opinions/37238840_1_jack-lew-treasury-secretary-rob-nabors Obama’s sequester deal-changer,] By Bob Woodward, ''Washington Post'', February 22, 2013.</ref> effective January 1, 2013. The idea was to break the deadlock over a [[federal debt ceiling]] debate in the summer of 2011 and "kick the can down the road" past the [[2012 Presidential election]] over ways to pay for Obama's [[stimulus]] spending and "[[healthcare reform]]" during his first term.
Critics warned Obama's [[economic planning|economic plan]] would create massive [[unemployment]] and a [[recession]]. Obama repeatedly claimed tax increases on the rich would pay for his plan, and [[Republican]]s compromised by voting for tax increases for the first time in two decades. As part of the deal, Obama's sequester cuts were delayed 60 days to avoid the inevitable [[fiscal cliff]] of his plan.
==Specifics of Obama's plan==
The Obama plan called for the President to issue [[Executive Order]]s for immediate cuts totally $85 billion to be divided equally between defence spending and programs such as [[Medicare]] and [[Social security]] for the remainder of fiscal year 2013. On the employment side, defence cuts are reflected in lost [[payroll]]s totalling half of the [[sequester]], or $42.5 billion; this is essentially $10,000,000 ''per hour'' in reduced payroll spending<ref>a classic picture of what is meant by the term, "economic contraction".</ref> by the federal government for individuals employed mostly as civilian contractors. Many will see permanent jobloss. A ripple effect, or "trickle down" effect will been seen soon thereafter in lesser paying retail positions.
===Defence cuts===
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>}}
On December 5, 2012 it was reported that the [[Pentagon]] on instructions from the [[White House]] [[Office of Management and Budget]] began planning to use sequestration to cut Congressionally mandated military and defence spending.<ref>http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=118712</ref><ref>http://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/12/furloughs-hiring-freeze-table-defense-begins-sequester-planning/59968/</ref>
On December 5, 2012 it was reported that the [[Pentagon]] on instructions from the [[White House]] [[Office of Management and Budget]] began planning to use sequestration to cut Congressionally mandated military and defence spending.<ref>http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=118712</ref><ref>http://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/12/furloughs-hiring-freeze-table-defense-begins-sequester-planning/59968/</ref>
===Democratic reactions===
The Democrats are said to be planning calls for more extended unemployment benefits and [[infrastructure]] projects, which is of course, what the sequester is paying for from Obama's first term. Infrastructure projects do nothing to solve the underlying problem of unemployment, leaving workers unemployed, again, once the project is completed or government funding runs out.<ref>There is a limit to how many highways, bridges, and public buildings can be built. And it is States and localities that must pay the cost of permanently maintaining them. Many states and localities are already struggling to maintain basic services like police, fire, and teachers. As [[FDR#Double_dip_recession|FDR]] discovered, "infrastructure" is just a campaign slogan that only prolongs the crisis and extends the suffering.</ref> Likewise, extended unemployment benefits do nothing to address the problem of job creation.
==See also==
==See also==
[[Category:Budget terms]]
[[Category:Budget terms]]
[[Category:Obama administration]]