Sequester Cuts Will Be Stretched to Friday Limit
The White House says automatic spending reductions set to kick in Friday will be put off until as close to midnight Friday night as possible. Call them the Cinderella cuts.
Surrounded by first responders who may be impacted by looming budget cuts, President Barack Obama speaks during an event at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building
The law, passed by Congress on Jan. 2 simply says that "on March 1, 2013, the president shall order a sequestration for fiscal year 2013." That's budget talk for an $85 billion reduction in defense and domestic spending between now and Oct. 1. Obama can issue that order at any point in the day.
And White House press secretary Jay Carney says that means midnight, Friday -- or as close to midnight as possible: 11:59 p.m. and 59 seconds.
Because, Carney's says, Obama is "ever hopeful."
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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