The Legislative history of sequestration....

Back in 2011 after a series of proposals this bill was the final chance to resolve the 2011 US debt-ceiling crisis. There were bitter divisions and splits between and within the parties. Some earlier ideas like Obama-Boehner $4 trillion “Grand Bargain”, the House Republican Cut, Cap, & Balance Act, and the McConnell-Reid “Plan B”, all failed to gain political or specific congressional support to move in law. As the midnight deadline on August 2nd drew near, the House passed the Budget Control Act on August 1, 2011 by a vote of 269-161. (174 Republicans & 95 Democrats voted for it, while 66 Republicans & 95 Democrats voted against it). 

The Senate followed and passed the act with a vote of 74-26, 19 republicans and 6 democrats voted against it. Shortly after President Obama signed the bill, stating “this is not the deal I would have preferred, but this compromise does make a serious down payment on the deficit reduction we need, and gives each party a strong incentive to get a balanced plan done before the end of the year.” 
Sequestration was written into this bill and was only to be activated if Congress did not pass deficit reduction legislation. 

5 months go by and no bill is passed and a new year begins. As 2012 began I believe the only thing on their minds was the upcoming election. Congressmen and Senators spent more time trying to get reelected or elected into the presidency that they forgot about what their job was and never came to an agreement on any plan. So here we are “Federal Employee Pawns” in their game of chess, and the only choice we have is to Speak Up... Call our Senators & Congressmen.... Remember they Work for YOU, elected by YOU, Tell them if they don’t Stop this Sequestration, You Will Remember, What they did in 2013, and Show them by not Voting for them next time they are up for reelection!! 
Call Today, Tomorrow and Every Day, Until this Nonsense Stops!!

Carolyn Chando, Secretary Elect/Legislative Coordinator 

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