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'''Budget sequestration''', or simply "'''sequestration'''," is an [[Executive Order]] issued by the [[U.S. President]] that authorizes automatic reductions in planned spending by the federal government set to begin March 1, 2013.  These cuts total merely $1.2 trillion over 10 years, which would barely affect the overall national debt of $16 trillion.  Moreover, the cuts are primarily to planned growth in future spending, and may not reduce current spending levels much at all.  These cuts are to be divided 50% for domestic discretionary spending (not affecting [[entitlement]] programs like Social Security), and 50% for defence spending.

'''Budget sequestration''', or simply "'''sequestration'''," is an [[Executive Order]] issued by the [[U.S. President]] that authorizes automatic reductions in planned spending by the federal government set to begin March 1, 2013.  These cuts total merely $1.2 trillion over 10 years, which would barely affect the overall national debt of $16 trillion.  Moreover, the cuts are primarily to planned growth in future spending, and may not reduce current spending levels much at all.  These cuts are to be divided 50% for domestic discretionary spending (not affecting [[entitlement]] programs like Social Security), and 50% for defence spending.

The term is formally defined in the Budget Enforcement Act (BEA) as the cancellation of budgetary resources provided by [[discretionary appropriation]]s or [[direct spending]] laws. New budget authority, unobligated balances, direct [[spending authority]], and obligation limitations are “sequestrable” resources; that is, they may be subject to reduction or cancellation under a [[president]]ial sequester order. <ref>[http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d05734sp.pdf A Glossary of Terms Used in the Federal Budget Process], pg. 94, pdf. www.gao.gov</ref>

The term is formally defined in the Budget Enforcement Act (BEA) as the cancellation of budgetary resources provided by [[discretionary appropriation]]s or [[direct spending]] laws. New budget authority, unobligated balances, direct [[spending authority]], and obligation limitations are “sequestrable” resources; that is, they may be subject to reduction or cancellation under a [[president]]ial sequester order.<ref>[http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d05734sp.pdf A Glossary of Terms Used in the Federal Budget Process], pg. 94, pdf. www.gao.gov</ref>

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===Defence cuts===

===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===

===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.

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==

*[[Backdoor spending authority]]

*[[Backdoor spending authority]]

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[[Category : Economic Preparedness]]

[[Category:Economic Preparedness]]

[[Category:Budget terms]]

[[Category:Budget terms]]

[[Category:Obama Administration]]

[[Category:Obama Administration]]