By Bill O'NeilNot so fast--the word from San Antonio Republican Congressman Lamar Smith to President Barack Obama--as the debate over sequestration heats up again in Washington--and around the country.
The President is pressing Republicans to find a compromise to avoid a series of deep governemnt spending cuts--which are set to take effect March 1st.
"these cuts are not smart, they are not fair, they will hurt our economy. They will add hundreds of thousands of Americans to the unemployment roll" the President said Tuesday, while taking aim at Republicans in Congress.
"Are they willing to compromise to protect vital investments in education, health care, national security--and all of the jobs that depend on them" the President said. However, those words ring hollow for Congressman Smith--who sees much of what's happening as the President's own doing.
"This sequestration was proposed by President Obama. It was insisted on by President Obama--and unfortunately, it's not working out as we all had expected" Smith said, adding it is the President's own policies that have led the country to where it is today financially.
"The deficit has doubled. The amount of money that we are spending beyond our means has doubled over the last four years" Smith said.
