Sequester 2013

[Ibanez]

Senate Democrats plan to have a bill on the floor by Thursday.

Aides have said elements of the package could reflect a plan offered last week by Rep. Chris Van Hollen (Md.), the top Democrat at the House Budget Committee. That measure would eliminate subsidies to the farm industry, scrap tax preferences used by oil-and-gas companies and implement a new minimum tax rate on people making seven figures annually — the proposal commonly known as the “Buffett Rule.”


The New York Times reported Monday that Senate Democrats were closing in on a $120 billion package that would include elements of the Van Hollen proposal.

http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/a ... n-thursday" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[GSUhooligan]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=p ... 0RkWqyn1y4[/youtube]

[bluehenbillk]

Senate Democrats plan to have a bill on the floor by Thursday.

Aides have said elements of the package could reflect a plan offered last week by Rep. Chris Van Hollen (Md.), the top Democrat at the House Budget Committee. That measure would eliminate subsidies to the farm industry, scrap tax preferences used by oil-and-gas companies and implement a new minimum tax rate on people making seven figures annually — the proposal commonly known as the “Buffett Rule.”


The New York Times reported Monday that Senate Democrats were closing in on a $120 billion package that would include elements of the Van Hollen proposal.

http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/a ... n-thursday" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The GOP isn't going to go for that.

Honestly, the more I read about the sequester the more I'm OK with it. Sure, there are going to have to be some DOD furloughs but the DOD along with 99% of Washington is already bloated to begin with. Look, people can't have it both ways, you want smaller government well here it is.

Heck I hear the State Department whining about falling $2.6B short with things & 20% of what they listed was BS that we shouldn't be paying a dime for already. This isn't the Cold War era anymore, if Iraq & Afghanistan and events since have shown we need a leaner, more responsive military, not the one that I grew up with in my teen years in the 1980's.

The bottom line is this: Our Federal Government spends too much money. How do you think we got $16T and counting in debt. God forbid we actually pass a balanced budget amendment.

Let the sequester happen, it'll be the best thing for our country. Maybe we'll learn to start working together more & make real decisions for the country's best interest versus pursuing out of control partisan divide.

[Grizalltheway]

Senate Democrats plan to have a bill on the floor by Thursday.


http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/a ... n-thursday" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The GOP isn't going to go for that.

Honestly, the more I read about the sequester the more I'm OK with it. Sure, there are going to have to be some DOD furloughs but the DOD along with 99% of Washington is already bloated to begin with. Look, people can't have it both ways, you want smaller government well here it is.

Heck I hear the State Department whining about falling $2.6B short with things & 20% of what they listed was BS that we shouldn't be paying a dime for already. This isn't the Cold War era anymore, if Iraq & Afghanistan and events since have shown we need a leaner, more responsive military, not the one that I grew up with in my teen years in the 1980's.

The bottom line is this: Our Federal Government spends too much money. How do you think we got $16T and counting in debt. God forbid we actually pass a balanced budget amendment.

Let the sequester happen, it'll be the best thing for our country. Maybe we'll learn to start working together more & make real decisions for the country's best interest versus pursuing out of control partisan divide.

Ask the UK and other Euro countries how strict austerity is working out for them.

[GannonFan]

The GOP isn't going to go for that.

Honestly, the more I read about the sequester the more I'm OK with it. Sure, there are going to have to be some DOD furloughs but the DOD along with 99% of Washington is already bloated to begin with. Look, people can't have it both ways, you want smaller government well here it is.

Heck I hear the State Department whining about falling $2.6B short with things & 20% of what they listed was BS that we shouldn't be paying a dime for already. This isn't the Cold War era anymore, if Iraq & Afghanistan and events since have shown we need a leaner, more responsive military, not the one that I grew up with in my teen years in the 1980's.

The bottom line is this: Our Federal Government spends too much money. How do you think we got $16T and counting in debt. God forbid we actually pass a balanced budget amendment.

Let the sequester happen, it'll be the best thing for our country. Maybe we'll learn to start working together more & make real decisions for the country's best interest versus pursuing out of control partisan divide.

Ask the UK and other Euro countries how strict austerity is working out for them.

Aks them how all that excessive spending and lack of competition that got them into a position where they had to adopt austerity got them. Europe was like an old person that decides it's time to retire and they check out of the workforce. Problem is, a person who retires lives the rest of the life and eventually dies. They don't need to worry about any period of time longer than their lifespan. Countries, on the other hand, don't die off (well, mostly, I mean, the Ottoman Empire is no longer with us, but it took a long time to wind that baby down). Eventually they're like the retiree who only thought they'd live for 10 years after retiring and now that they're in their 3rd decade of retirement they're screwed and are bagging groceries or serving up fries at McDonalds 8 hours a day. Europe is like a look into our future - rampant goverment spending, massive intervention into the free markets (I know kalm, they're never perfectly "free"), a declining birth rate and resistance to meaningful and effective immigration. But it's still a nice place to vacation to for a few weeks.

[Grizalltheway]

Ask the UK and other Euro countries how strict austerity is working out for them.

Aks them how all that excessive spending and lack of competition that got them into a position where they had to adopt austerity got them. Europe was like an old person that decides it's time to retire and they check out of the workforce. Problem is, a person who retires lives the rest of the life and eventually dies. They don't need to worry about any period of time longer than their lifespan. Countries, on the other hand, don't die off (well, mostly, I mean, the Ottoman Empire is no longer with us, but it took a long time to wind that baby down). Eventually they're like the retiree who only thought they'd live for 10 years after retiring and now that they're in their 3rd decade of retirement they're screwed and are bagging groceries or serving up fries at McDonalds 8 hours a day. Europe is like a look into our future - rampant goverment spending, massive intervention into the free markets (I know kalm, they're never perfectly "free"), a declining birth rate and resistance to meaningful and effective immigration. But it's still a nice place to vacation to for a few weeks.

Notice I said STRICT austerity. There's no doubt we need to get our finances in order before our situation becomes as dire as theirs, but it'd be unwise to do it too swiftly, while the economy and job market are still basically on life support.

[SDHornet]

Senate Democrats plan to have a bill on the floor by Thursday.


http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/a ... n-thursday" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The GOP isn't going to go for that.

Honestly, the more I read about the sequester the more I'm OK with it. Sure, there are going to have to be some DOD furloughs but the DOD along with 99% of Washington is already bloated to begin with. Look, people can't have it both ways, you want smaller government well here it is.

Heck I hear the State Department whining about falling $2.6B short with things & 20% of what they listed was BS that we shouldn't be paying a dime for already. This isn't the Cold War era anymore, if Iraq & Afghanistan and events since have shown we need a leaner, more responsive military, not the one that I grew up with in my teen years in the 1980's.

The bottom line is this: Our Federal Government spends too much money. How do you think we got $16T and counting in debt. God forbid we actually pass a balanced budget amendment.

Let the sequester happen, it'll be the best thing for our country. Maybe we'll learn to start working together more & make real decisions for the country's best interest versus pursuing out of control partisan divide.

I agree with this. Since the children on the Hill can't get their shit together, take away their toys.

[houndawg]

The GOP isn't going to go for that.

Honestly, the more I read about the sequester the more I'm OK with it. Sure, there are going to have to be some DOD furloughs but the DOD along with 99% of Washington is already bloated to begin with. Look, people can't have it both ways, you want smaller government well here it is.

Heck I hear the State Department whining about falling $2.6B short with things & 20% of what they listed was BS that we shouldn't be paying a dime for already. This isn't the Cold War era anymore, if Iraq & Afghanistan and events since have shown we need a leaner, more responsive military, not the one that I grew up with in my teen years in the 1980's.

The bottom line is this: Our Federal Government spends too much money. How do you think we got $16T and counting in debt. God forbid we actually pass a balanced budget amendment.

Let the sequester happen, it'll be the best thing for our country. Maybe we'll learn to start working together more & make real decisions for the country's best interest versus pursuing out of control partisan divide.

I agree with this. Since the children on the Hill can't get their **** together, take away their toys.

Anybody serious about cutting welfare has to look hard at the vast amount of welfare in the defense industry. We don't need 750 bases overseas either.

[UNI88]

Aks them how all that excessive spending and lack of competition that got them into a position where they had to adopt austerity got them. Europe was like an old person that decides it's time to retire and they check out of the workforce. Problem is, a person who retires lives the rest of the life and eventually dies. They don't need to worry about any period of time longer than their lifespan. Countries, on the other hand, don't die off (well, mostly, I mean, the Ottoman Empire is no longer with us, but it took a long time to wind that baby down). Eventually they're like the retiree who only thought they'd live for 10 years after retiring and now that they're in their 3rd decade of retirement they're screwed and are bagging groceries or serving up fries at McDonalds 8 hours a day. Europe is like a look into our future - rampant goverment spending, massive intervention into the free markets (I know kalm, they're never perfectly "free"), a declining birth rate and resistance to meaningful and effective immigration. But it's still a nice place to vacation to for a few weeks.

Notice I said STRICT austerity. There's no doubt we need to get our finances in order before our situation becomes as dire as theirs, but it'd be unwise to do it too swiftly, while the economy and job market are still basically on life support.

That depends on your perspective and timeline. Yes, strict austerity will have a tremendous negative impact on today's economy but it could lead to greater growth and prosperity in the future. If you're 50 years old you probably don't want to pay the austerity price now but if you're 15, you're hoping the government bites the bullet so that it reduces the debt that was built up providing other people with benefits that you have to pay for.

[93henfan]

Honestly, the more I read about the sequester the more I'm OK with it. Sure, there are going to have to be some DOD furloughs..

Easily said when you won't be taking the 20% pay cut that Col Hogan and I will be taking for 22 weeks (at least) if no agreement is reached.

This is not some hypothetical scenario. It will start on April 1 with no Congressional agreement. The services have already published their plans. Imagine taking a 20% pay cut for 22 weeks. We've already been under a pay freeze for three years.

[Col Hogan]

Honestly, the more I read about the sequester the more I'm OK with it. Sure, there are going to have to be some DOD furloughs..

Easily said when you won't be taking the 20% pay cut that Col Hogan and I will be taking for 22 weeks (at least) if no agreement is reached.

This is not some hypothetical scenario. It will start on April 1 with no Congressional agreement. The services have already published their plans. Imagine taking a 20% pay cut for 22 weeks. We've already been under a pay freeze for three years.

While I ain't thrilled about losing $$$, if they let me arrange my "sequestration vacation" the way I want it, I'll be ok...

I'm told we will have to take two days a pay period...so I'll take the first and last days of a pay period...that way I get a 4 day unpaid vacation every other week...

Right now we spend almost as much on interest payments as we spend on defense...like defense or not, at least lots of that money comes back into the local economies...

And Huckleberry Hound is right...DoD has way too many bases...overseas and here...and what he doesn't realize is that it's way easier to close an overseas base than it is to close one in the states...

So, welcome to "The Suck, Sequester Version"...

[AZGrizFan]

I'm all for sequestration happening. What I DON'T like, however, is the disproportionate hit on defense spending. 50% of the cuts are in defense, while Defense makes up only 19% of spending.

At least that's what I heard on Fox News.

[houndawg]

Easily said when you won't be taking the 20% pay cut that Col Hogan and I will be taking for 22 weeks (at least) if no agreement is reached.

This is not some hypothetical scenario. It will start on April 1 with no Congressional agreement. The services have already published their plans. Imagine taking a 20% pay cut for 22 weeks. We've already been under a pay freeze for three years.

While I ain't thrilled about losing $$$, if they let me arrange my "sequestration vacation" the way I want it, I'll be ok...

I'm told we will have to take two days a pay period...so I'll take the first and last days of a pay period...that way I get a 4 day unpaid vacation every other week...

Right now we spend almost as much on interest payments as we spend on defense...like defense or not, at least lots of that money comes back into the local economies...

And Huckleberry Hound is right...DoD has way too many bases...overseas and here...and what he doesn't realize is that it's way easier to close an overseas base than it is to close one in the states...

So, welcome to "The Suck, Sequester Version"...

Actually, he does realize that and thinks that is where the biggest defense cuts should be made.

[TheDancinMonarch]

Honestly, the more I read about the sequester the more I'm OK with it. Sure, there are going to have to be some DOD furloughs but the DOD along with 99% of Washington is already bloated to begin with. Look, people can't have it both ways, you want smaller government well here it is.

Heck I hear the State Department whining about falling $2.6B short with things & 20% of what they listed was BS that we shouldn't be paying a dime for already. This isn't the Cold War era anymore, if Iraq & Afghanistan and events since have shown we need a leaner, more responsive military, not the one that I grew up with in my teen years in the 1980's.

The bottom line is this: Our Federal Government spends too much money. How do you think we got $16T and counting in debt. God forbid we actually pass a balanced budget amendment.

Let the sequester happen, it'll be the best thing for our country. Maybe we'll learn to start working together more & make real decisions for the country's best interest versus pursuing out of control partisan divide.

Count me in.

[LeadBolt]

I was of the mind that the sequester would be a disaster, but since there doesn't seem to be anyone with common sense or leadership ability in the Federal Government's upper reaches, it's better than continuing down this insane path we have been on.

[Ibanez]

Easily said when you won't be taking the 20% pay cut that Col Hogan and I will be taking for 22 weeks (at least) if no agreement is reached.

This is not some hypothetical scenario. It will start on April 1 with no Congressional agreement. The services have already published their plans. Imagine taking a 20% pay cut for 22 weeks. We've already been under a pay freeze for three years.

While I ain't thrilled about losing $$$, if they let me arrange my "sequestration vacation" the way I want it, I'll be ok...

I'm told we will have to take two days a pay period...so I'll take the first and last days of a pay period...that way I get a 4 day unpaid vacation every other week...

Right now we spend almost as much on interest payments as we spend on defense...like defense or not, at least lots of that money comes back into the local economies...

And Huckleberry Hound is right...DoD has way too many bases...overseas and here...and what he doesn't realize is that it's way easier to close an overseas base than it is to close one in the states...

So, welcome to "The Suck, Sequester Version"...

Certain Echelon III orgs are having a review of their contracts b/c there is a clause that will allow them to amend the contracts to a lower amount, given the circumstances. I'm not sure if that's true or not, but if it is, then that 20% reduction is trickling down. And to an extent, many programs know that as of March 1 they have no money. Myself, my tasking has been reduced 50% on my Priority 1 program. We're taking 75% cuts to OMN and we haven't finalized OPN or RDT&E. My saving grace is I support multiple projects, all of which are PoR.

It's going to suck but I think the pain will be worth it IF we get our country into a better fiscal position.

[SDHornet]

For us non military folks, what the hell do all those acronyms stand for?

My DoD cuts story doesn't impact me directly but my dad is employed by the DoD and the local SD economy will no doubt take a hit due to its high reliance on DoD dollars. My dad is a grease monkey at North Island. He said his shop is looking at 4 furlough days a month (1 per week). He is well past retirement age so he isn’t worried. (Whenever I ask why he doesn't retire he always says, “why should I walk away from easy money?” ) He also said his shop is the end of the line for the gas turbine engine assembly/replacement so it is deemed an essential process and he and his guys will just make up the lost pay from the furloughs on overtime work.

[Ibanez]

For us non military folks, what the hell do all those acronyms stand for?

My DoD cuts story doesn't impact me directly but my dad is employed by the DoD and the local SD economy will no doubt take a hit due to its high reliance on DoD dollars. My dad is a grease monkey at North Island. He said his shop is looking at 4 furlough days a month (1 per week). He is well past retirement age so he isn’t worried. (Whenever I ask why he doesn't retire he always says, “why should I walk away from easy money?” ) He also said his shop is the end of the line for the gas turbine engine assembly/replacement so it is deemed an essential process and he and his guys will just make up the lost pay from the furloughs on overtime work.

Overtime? I'm shocked that a DoD entity is authorizing it. OT has been eliminated for the time being.

[93henfan]

Man. I made a tactical error coming back to DoD three weeks ago. I'll be losing roughly $10K (pre-tax) if this sucker goes the whole 22 weeks. GRRR.

But I'm glad Congress has had plenty of time the past five weeks to debate important things like a gun ban that has absolutely no chance of passing.

Keep up the good work Congress.

[SDHornet]

Overtime? I'm shocked that a DoD entity is authorizing it. OT has been eliminated for the time being.

No gas turbine engines = no frigates and destroyers available for deployment.

[SDHornet]

Man. I made a tactical error coming back to DoD three weeks ago. I'll be losing roughly $10K (pre-tax) if this sucker goes the whole 22 weeks. GRRR.

But I'm glad Congress has had plenty of time the past five weeks to debate important things like a gun ban that has absolutely no chance of passing.

Keep up the good work Congress.

Comical isn't it. Our "leaders" are a fucking joke.

[Ibanez]

Overtime? I'm shocked that a DoD entity is authorizing it. OT has been eliminated for the time being.

No gas turbine engines = no frigates and destroyers available for deployment.

Yeah, I get that. I know Navy wide that OT has been eliminated for current Fiscal year. Good luck to your dad.

[Ibanez]

Man. I made a tactical error coming back to DoD three weeks ago. I'll be losing roughly $10K (pre-tax) if this sucker goes the whole 22 weeks. GRRR.

But I'm glad Congress has had plenty of time the past five weeks to debate important things like a gun ban that has absolutely no chance of passing.

Keep up the good work Congress.

Comical isn't it. Our "leaders" are a fucking joke.

I am already sick of the spin talk. These people have had 2 years (roughly) to fix this. They couldn't do it then, what makes anyone so sure they'll get it done in 2 weeks?!

[Ibanez]

It would raise nearly $54 billion in taxes by implementing the Buffett Rule, setting a minimum effective tax rate for wealthy individuals and families. It would raise additional revenues by changing the tax treatment of oil extraction from oil sands.

This version of the Buffett Rule would phase in a 30-percent effective rate for incomes between $1 million and $2 million.

The plan would also end tax breaks that incentivize companies to move jobs overseas, raising less than $1 billion.


The $55 billion in spending cuts are evenly divided between defense and non-defense programs. It would save $27.5 billion by eliminating agricultural subsidies and another $27.5 billion though defense cuts.


Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) said the defense cuts don't kick in until 2015, after the Afghanistan war ends and they are phased in slowly until 2021. The plan would make defense cuts of about $3 billion in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 and slowly rise to $5 billion in 2021.


If passed, the package would stop the sequester through the end of 2013. It would cost $85 billion to halt the automatic cuts through the end of the fiscal year, which ends in October.


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[kalm]

While I ain't thrilled about losing $$$, if they let me arrange my "sequestration vacation" the way I want it, I'll be ok...

I'm told we will have to take two days a pay period...so I'll take the first and last days of a pay period...that way I get a 4 day unpaid vacation every other week...

Right now we spend almost as much on interest payments as we spend on defense...like defense or not, at least lots of that money comes back into the local economies...

And Huckleberry Hound is right...DoD has way too many bases...overseas and here...and what he doesn't realize is that it's way easier to close an overseas base than it is to close one in the states...

So, welcome to "The Suck, Sequester Version"...

Actually, he does realize that and thinks that is where the biggest defense cuts should be made.

I'm all for defense cuts and closing down bases too. Except Fairchild AFB which is the largest employer in Spokane County.

That's the problem with these economic complexes we develop. We don't want to fund them by increasing taxes but we can't afford for them to go away because of the economic hit.

Meh.