We mentioned earlier this week that Republicans have started to accept sequestration [1], despite the devastating effect this would have on our economy. Apparently, it’s even worse than we thought. [Cue the horror music.] Even after Republicans saw GDP dip last quarter due to the uncertainty they’ve caused over sequestration, this news warranted little more than a shrug from our GOP friends. This CQ headline sums it up: “GOP Lawmakers Say Deficit Reduction Outweighs Short-Term Economic Blip [2].”
We mentioned earlier this week that Republicans have started to accept sequestration [1], despite the devastating effect this would have on our economy. Apparently, it’s even worse than we thought. [Cue the horror music.] Even after Republicans saw GDP dip last quarter due to the uncertainty they’ve caused over sequestration, this news warranted little more than a shrug from our GOP friends. This CQ headline sums it up: “GOP Lawmakers Say Deficit Reduction Outweighs Short-Term Economic Blip [2].”
While Democrats want to reach a big and balanced deal that includes spending cuts and revenues, Republicans…eh not so much. Now, even more Republicans have indicated that sequestration is all but assured to happen:
Sen. Tom Coburn: “I think sequester’s going to happen. … I think people want it to happen.” [New York Times, 2/1 [3]]
Sen. Mike Johanns: “I just have a feeling the sequester’s going to happen. …I just think there’s so much concern about the debt and spending that it overrides most issues these days.” [CQ, 2/1 [2]]
Sen. Kelly Ayotte: “[sequestration] looks like . . . where we’re headed.” [CQ, 2/1 [2]]
So take their opposition to working with Democrats toward a solution, and add it to the fact that refusing to work together means slamming right into sequestration and further jeopardizing our nation’s fiscal stability: that doesn’t sound like a good plan to us.