Smoke and mirrors

The sequestration period runs Jan. 2, 2013 until Sep 30. Agencies would have to make cuts during the nine-month period that the sequestration is in effect. On a percentage basis the cuts would have to be about a third larger than the 8.5 percent to 10 percent required for the year as a whole. Such programs would face cuts of between 11.3 percent and 13.3 percent during that nine-month period.

Since the 8.5 percent to 10 percent annual savings mandated by sequestration must be attained within nine months or over a 39-week period, the reduction in payroll required in that period would be about percent 12 percent.

Examples of cuts: Disabilities Education Act will be reduced by $1,053,600,000 in 2013, or 28 Ops and maintenance at the Marine Corps (down 9.4 percent, or $854 million)

8.2 percent out of embassy security Defense programs of either 9.4 percent or 10 percent, depending on how they receive their appropriations from Congress ($55 billion).

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"80 billion subtracted from planned spending of about 4 trillion is 2%."

1. It’s $85 in cuts. 2. The Budget Control Act also specifies automatic cuts of 7.8% to domestic programs. 3. SSI is not affected. 4. Budget is requested was $3.8t not $4t (difference between requested and spent has been about $100mil less) 5. Mandatory spending accounted for 57.4% of total federal outlays in FY2012, with net interest payments accounting for an additional 6.3%. Total 63.7% 6. The 2013 cuts apply to “discretionary’ spending only.

So the $85b must come from 36-37% of the budget. Additionally, since the budget year is half over and most agencies have already committed/spent nearly half their budget the cuts come what remains. It also as stated must come equally, one area can’t be cut more to make up for cutting less in another area/areas.

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And what is the source for your post, chubby..?

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Let's see public school staff is increasing however 19/5 is no longer employed in the education field, government employment is increasing however 19/5 is no longer employed by the government. Do I see a pattern here? Next he'll be living on the third floor in soiled diapers with the bar stool vet.

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19/5 "I know that teachers, police and firemen have been losing jobs at a rapid pace nationwide,"

In PA student enrollment since 2000 has dramatically decreased by 35,510, but the number of staff employed by public schools increased by 35,821.

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Hi texas.. we did meet at the center and no, we did not open with a prayer. We instead opened with the pledge of allegiance, which I took part in despite the fact that America is not one nation under god. Probably a better option as, given the diversity of attendees, it is unlikely that everyone views religion the same. Nice to hear from you, as always..

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BuffTrev1,

Did you meet at the Wellsboro Sr Center tonight? Did you open with prayer?

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BuffTrev1,

Did you meet at the Wellsboro Sr Center tonight? Did you open with prayer?

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Hi enigma, can you provide a source for you claim below? I know that teachers, police and firemen have been losing jobs at a rapid pace nationwide, with Southern Tioga being an example. I'd be curious to know the basis for your post.. have a good evening, I have a party committee meeting tonight.

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JosephOtto,"Last I checked the country was bleeding jobs when Obama took office and has been improving ever since."

Check again! There are fewer people working now than when Obama took office and there are more working for the government. That means that the private sector is doing much worse. Maybe if Obama hadn't hired so many new government workers he wouldn't have to cut back on your hours now. It's too bad you will have to take a hit so Obama can tell us how much we need a gigantic government, but we need to cut spending. If we don't get things under control, your job will eventually go away completely.

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What many of you missed is that these are not cuts at all. This is just a reduction in the amount of increase. What Obama is telling us is that if the government does not continue to grow at the present rate, the world will come to an end. The truth is that if the government does continue to grow at the present rate, the country will come to an end. It's just a matter of time.

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Nobud, don’t expect much more than deceptive posts, childish one liners, insults and silence.

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2% cut … is totally FALSE. Please state your source.

That is the amount of total expenditure that is being talked about. Where it comes from or what programs are off limits are beside the point. 80 billion subtracted from planned spending of about 4 trillion is 2%.

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Phil, that is exactly what I have been railing about for years. And, when pressed for an answer as to why it is ok, all I get is silence from both sides or the occasional mumble about we've always done it or some other bs.

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Let it happen...maybe if he kept his *** in DC and faced the problem with Congress, it could be resolved, but he chooses to run around the country stirring up "hate". Let's start with getting rid of the Obama's dog handler who earns $100,000 per year!

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Using future generation’s money to purchase today’s votes and to increase the power of today’s politicians should be criminal to say the least; it certainly isn’t something that should be supported and excused.

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Increasing the national debt and continuing to print money to pay for it are like a cancer eating away inside our body until one day the entire body (i.e., the USA) dies.

Reducing some spending (i.e., the sequester) is like cutting off a finger bitten by a poisonous snake; there is some suffering but the body will live.

If Congress and the President want to renegotiate on which categories to take the cuts, that is fine; however, we need to reduce spending by the agreed upon targets.

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Nobud, you should take your own advice.

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Correction: Cutting more than 10% or so from training can’t be applied to personnel etc.. personnel must still cut the 10% also. It is how the law was written. The same is true for all other agencies. You can’t cut in one area to save another area. The logic maybe bad, but it is what it is.

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2% cut … is totally FALSE. Please state your source. Remember there are no cuts to mandatory spending. Around 55% is not being cut, so all the cuts come from the rest. Defense cuts are out of about $670b, however, most of that is already spent through contracts, wars and military personnel pay. Please remember the BUDGET year is half over. Contracts have already been signed. Defense cuts must come from what’s left across the board, equally. Cutting more than 105 or so from training can’t be applied to personnel etc.. personnel must still cut the 10% also. It is how the law was written. The same is true for all other agencies. You can’t cut in one area to save another area. The logic maybe bad, but it is what it is.

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Chucky, did your mommy dress you this morning? What did she pack in your lunch box? I have some HO-HOs I would trade for your M&Ms. Shhhh, here comes the teacher!

Uh, this is about the pace and depth of your comments recently. Sometimes it is better to say nothing than say something just to say something.

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President Clinton Announces Another Record Budget Surplus - CNN

Clinton debt increase by year.

1996 $5,224,810,939,140

1997 $5,413,146,011,400

1998 $5,526,193,008,900

1999 $5,656,270,901,620

2000 $5,674,178,209,890

Guess that pretty well sums up liberal economic thinking, they don't know the difference between + or -. Time for a diaper change Fido.

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"By law, government’s income should equal its outgo plus a bit to pay down the debt." - philunderwood

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Uh, we HAD that...until Daddy Bush's Idiot Son was expected to pay-back the folks (who'd arranged his Presidency), with tax-cuts!

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See:

President Clinton Announces Another Record Budget Surplus - CNN

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"Smoke and mirrors" stop your whining and get back to tending my sheep.So I (Obama) can take all the credit for this fine meal of mutten I'm having after another round of golf on vacation.Dance you mud turtles !

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