WASHINGTON — With just nine days until dreaded across-the-board federal spending cuts hit, President Obama yesterday resorted to scare tactics to sell his plan that would instead raise taxes on the rich again.
Obama warned that the looming cuts would increase unemployment and jeopardize military readiness and public safety — and even set criminals free.
“FBI agents will be furloughed. Federal prosecutors will have to close cases and let criminals go,” proclaimed Obama, who was flanked by police, firefighters and other first responders at a White House event.
He said the $85 billion in cuts for the current year and $1.2 trillion over a decade, known as the sequester, would strike like a “meat cleaver.”
Half of the cuts would hit the Pentagon.
Obama and Congress created the sequester in 2011 to force a budget compromise to reduce the federal debt, now at $16.5 trillion. They still couldn’t make a deal.
Obama, who just returned from a Florida golf weekend that included a round with Tiger Woods, continued his doomsday predictions:
“Air-traffic controllers and airport security will see cutbacks . . . Thousands of teachers and educators will be laid off. Tens of thousands of parents will have to scramble to find child care for their kids.”
“These cuts are not smart. They are not fair.”
Republicans, long at odds with Obama over runaway federal spending, have appeared resigned to the sequester taking effect.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, of Kentucky, called Obama’s speech another “campaign event.”
“Surely the president won’t cut funds to first responders,” he said. “That would be a terrible and entirely unnecessary choice.”
Obama aimed to pressure Republicans to accept his plan to replace the sequester with smaller cuts and more revenue from nixing deductions and tax breaks for big business and the rich.
He accused Republicans of choosing to protect the rich over helping first responders keep their jobs.
Republicans balked.
“Just last month, the president got his higher taxes on the wealthy, and he’s already back for more,” said House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio).
House Republicans passed two bills last year that would replace the sequester with other cuts. Obama opposed them.
“My door is open,” insisted Obama. “I am willing to work with anybody to get this job done.”
Doug Heye, spokesman for House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) fired back on Twitter: “President says his door is open, but he’s spent more time in 2013 with Tiger Woods than with all congressional Republicans.”