Obama blames Republicans for sequester

President Obama blamed Republicans on Saturday for $85 billion in automatic budget cuts over the next seven months, saying the GOP is unwilling to help reduce the federal debt by raising taxes on the wealthy.

"It's happening because Republicans in Congress chose this outcome over closing a single wasteful tax loophole that helps reduce the deficit," Obama said in his weekly radio address.

Republicans returned the favor, saying Obama would rather raise taxes than cut major spending programs.

"The American people know full well that if they give this White House more tax revenue, it will be spent on new stimulus projects and government programs," said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., in the GOP radio address.

The parties hit the airwaves a day after Obama and congressional leaders met at the White House but did not strike a deal to avert the automatic cuts known as the sequester, $85 billion in both domestic and defense programs.

In his radio address, Obama said the cuts will "inflict pain on communities across the country," costing jobs and slowing growth.

Thousands of federal employees, including Border Patrol agents, FBI agents, and Defense Department employees, face furloughs and lost wages, Obama said. The cuts will hurt programs for education, research, and defense.

more here: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/03/02/obama-republicans-sequester-cathy-rodgers/1958019/