*Sequestration

As the irrational, Republican policy of sequester continues, more news this morning about the consequences of leaving this senseless policy in place without a balanced alternative to replace it.  According to a report in POLITICO, the sequester’s furloughs of teachers, administrators, and support staff at Defense Department schools at installations around the world are set to delay school

“Mr. Speaker, I have come to this Floor nearly every week since the sequester took effect in March to highlight its dangerous consequences to our national security, its harmful impact on our economy, and the pain it is causing to the most vulnerable people in our country.

Over the weekend, Speaker John Boehner tried to defend the House Republican leadership’s lack of legislative accomplishments.  When asked on Face the Nation about the 113^th Congress’ record as the least productive in history and its low approval rating, Speaker Boehner attempted to redefine how to judge success:

Unfortunately, Republicans appear to be unable – or unwilling – to learn from the past.  Despite the risk that comes with playing games with our country’s economy, several Republicans are indicating they want to threaten a government shutdown in order to repeal the Affordable Care Act:  

A scathing analysis in POLITICO this morning details many of the flaws in House Republicans’ harmful budget strategy, from the lack of progress on appropriations to the extreme cuts to domestic programs.  With time running short, there seems to be little hope that Republicans will finish the budget process:

While House Republicans aren’t taking any action to stop the sequester’s reckless, across-the-board cuts, its impact continues to spread. With just two legislative weeks left until the August district work period – and only two full legislative weeks in September – time is short for action.  Here’s a quick look at some of the articles from this weekend covering the avoidable impact of the sequester:

“Mr. Speaker, for civilian defense employees at Pax River Naval Air Station, Webster Field, and the Naval Surface Warfare Center at Indian Head, all of which I represent – and Mr. Jones, who's on the Floor, represents a substantial number as well in his district – sequestration hit home last week as furloughs began. The same is true for 650,000 civilian defense workers throughout our country.

MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP

This week marked the beginning of civilian Defense Department employee furloughs, which are the result of Congress’ failure to replace the arbitrary and untargeted spending cuts known as the sequester.  These furloughs undermine their ability to support our war-fighters and impede our ability to recruit and retain the qualified federal workforce our nation needs and expects.