Feared by Republicans is that sequester affords more flexibility to the President to make cuts within the authorized areas based on executive and not congressional priorities.
Such empowerment allows the President to make decisions on a geopolitical basis. If he has received harsh treatment from state Senators and House members, he can enact punishment by cutting programs there. The GOP may not like it, but that is exactly what our system is about.
There are rewards for collaboration and punishment for lacking.
The President is expected to shore up his programs where he can at the expense of reducing those that are less aligned and not as productive. The chips will fall against his opposition on a case by case basis.
Remember in November will be the battle cry. Of course, that cuts two ways.
“Some Republicans think Obama will add money to support his health care law.
“One of the things that they mention is that we’ve been able to control spending in Obamacare, and if we give [the White House] flexibility, they may fund all these parts of Obamacare we don’t want to fund,” Appropriations Committee Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) said.
Others think the Office of Management and Budget will shutter programs in certain congressional districts to pressure lawmakers.
“I’ve watched this administration for two years up close and personal, and they will absolutely behave in ways that are intensely political,” Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) said.
“The president having ability to reprogram, which means the ability to punish his enemies and reward his friends, is beyond any reasonable constitutional justification,” Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) said.”
Comments