Billions of dollars would be slashed from defense operations and maintenance programs, says the administration. Medicare would take a two-percent hit, trimming millions in payouts to health care providers. Scientific research programs would be gutted. Aid for the poor and needy would be sharply curtailed.
More than a billion dollars would even be wiped from the State Department's diplomatic and consular program, including $127 million for embassy security, construction and maintenance and $2 million for the protection of foreign missions and officials, according to the document.
"The report leaves no question that the sequestration would be deeply destructive to national security, domestic investments and core government functions," the administration writes in the report, which was submitted to Congress as required by law.
House Republicans have passed a measure to avoid the drastic cuts, but Democrats have balked because their plan includes no new revenue (tax increases). To resolve the standoff, both sides will need to compromise on taxes.
Both sides needs to get to work on this. Both sides have supported this initiative. Unless they can come to an agreement, it will go into effect in 2013. We really should not be playing 'chicken' with our national security, security abroad, and Medicare, to name a few, which is what is going on. One side says, 'You do something' and the other side says, 'We will if you do'...and they go back and forth, down the road toward the cliff. If nobody blinks, they go over. Somebody needs to be the hero, regardless of party. As a plus, what won't be cut are veterans benefits and military personnel. And of course the salaries for members of Congress. I'm so glad we've got our priorities in order.
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