[Venturer]

If Congress doesn’t approve the cuts they cut the military and Medicare.

How about cutting the foreign aid first, or cut the education Department or the Energy department or the EPA, or ground Air Force One.

But no, they want to screw over the Military and Medicare which is already screwed over by the new Health reform Bill.

By the way why didnt they just cut the whole friggin Health Care Bill that we don’t want and don’t need.?

[Soul Seeker]

That wasn't what is quoted.

•If Congress does not approve those cuts by late December, automatic across-the-board cuts go into effect, including cuts to Defense and Medicare.

Across the board including cuts but not limited to those programs.

Anyway. I want to hear more details about this provision. On the surface this one caught my eye as something worthwhile but they have a habit of creating loopholes that don't favor us.

[Republican Wildcat]

If Congress doesn’t approve the cuts they cut the military and Medicare. How about cutting the foreign aid first, or cut the education Department or the Energy department or the EPA, or ground Air Force One. But no, they want to screw over the Military and Medicare which is already screwed over by the new Health reform Bill.

That's not the way I read that post...appears the cuts are across the board to every program "including" Medicare and the Military if the committee recommended spending 'cuts' (which are probably just reductions in the rate of increase if history is any guide) do not get passed - there is no "first" or "last" with the across the board cuts.

[Vigilanteman]

By the way why didnt they just cut the whole friggin Health Care Bill that we don’t want and don’t need.?

Starting with the $105 billion to implement the damn thing. Michelle Bachmann is the only presidential candidate even talking about it.

[Mike Darancette]

But no, they want to screw over the Military and Medicare which is already screwed over by the new Health reform Bill.

"If Congress does not approve those cuts by late December, automatic across-the-board cuts go into effect, including cuts to Defense and Medicare".

Brush up on your reading comprehension"

[Jedidah]

You didn’t read it right. If Congress doesn’t approve the cuts proposed by committee by December, cuts are made across the board, to everything. NOT just to military and Medicare, but to everything. The point is that the military and Medicare are not exempt.

And that should light a fire under Congress to get it done. Can you imagine having to go home for Christmas break and explain that to constituents?

[llandres]

“If Congress does not approve those cuts by late December, automatic across-the-board cuts go into effect, including cuts to Defense and Medicare.”

A lot will have to be explained/clarified. Who decides what the “automatic across-the-board cuts” will be? I think we all know that, ultimately, there really will have to be cuts in all areas to get back on the right track. And, as Allen West introduced in a bill that passed unanimously, there is a lot of waste to pursue in the DOD. (Medicare/Medicaid waste, fraud and abuse also make up many billions of $). But if cuts would be truly across the board, then that should mean throughout government.

Most critical is just who’ll make those decisions (the fatal flaw of McConnell’s plan was that it gave BHO blanket power to decide where to make cuts) - AND who will comprise the Committee.

I’d love to see a stipulation that only those who are up for re-election could serve on it. That’d guarantee some safeguards right there!

[Wiz]

You never fool with Department of Energy. They bring home our energy resource that fuels the economy!

[StAnDeliver]

"If Congress doesn’t approve the cuts they cut the military and Medicare. How about cutting the foreign aid first, or cut the education Department or the Energy department or the EPA..."

This is so true. We simply won't win these battles until FReepers are the people making these kind of decisions...