I am very much in favor of pay cuts and freezes to all congressional members.

Congress and the Whitehouse had 568 days to resolve sequester and failed. The sequester needs to be implemented as agreed to. Democrats and republicans are more concerned with party politics than doing what's best for the nation. This is shameful behavior. The first federal employees furloughed should consist of the congress and the Whitehouse. The country will be better off once this furlough is in effect. 1) To return to work, congress and the Whitehouse need to complete the following: Agree to a specific balance of spending cuts and revenue increases to replace sequester. Present this plan to the constituents and by a majority vote, we'll tell you if it's acceptable or not. 2) Pledge not to speak with or do the bidding of lobbyists. Breaking this pledge will result in automatic resignation of your office and a fine consisting of 10 years pay and five years in prison. 3) Hold a town hall meeting every six months. These simple steps should get congress and the Whitehouse pointed in the right direction for the first time in a long time.

Balanced Budget Amendment with real teeth. 1) Require Congress enact and POTUS sign a budget every year by 1 OCT. If you fail to do your job, the entire federal elected government (including POTUS and VPOTUS) faces a recall election on 1 DEC of the year you fail to do your job. Additionally, automatic tax increases and real across the board budget cuts in all accounts to achieve a 10% reduction in federal deficit. 2) Require the budget to be balanced and budget surpluses be established within the next 10yrs of enactment. Surpluses go toward paying down the national debt ONLY. Failure to do so results in item #1 being implemented automatically, with the caveat that tax increases and budget cuts are enacted to balance the budget in the 10th year after passage. 3) Budget surpluses remain a hard requirement until national debt reache 10% of GDP. Failure to do so results federal elected government recall and in automatic tax increases and real across the board tax increases to achieve 10% budget surplus. 4) If Federal debt ever exceeds 20% of GDP, items 1,2,3 kick in to reduce debt to 10% of GDP. DO YOUR JOB.

Lets cut Homeland security and the TSA for starters. Then cut back on the ATF.

While I do not agree that defense cuts should be the primary source of cuts...the department of defense , particularly the Navy has areas that they could cut down spending and not impact readiness of the Fleet.....activities would have to give up pet projects.

How about members of Congress share the sequester. Their perks, pay, etc. The citizens are suffering enough. Let's share the burden. As it is they have the premium of everything that none of the citizens have. Freezing their pay is not enough.

I think we should cut out a lot of the foreign. We give aid to countries that hate us but love our money

this poll is quite biased and skewed. There is no place to answer a balanced approach with both reforming tax loopholes and spending cuts in a responsible balanced manner.

Release the development of our oil and gas deposits. The resultant low cost and plentiful supply would reverse the current exodus of mfg jobs from our shores. We would soon regain our status as a producer nation instead of our approaching "user" status.

Across the board cut of at least 5% per year for x years...No exceptions ... No winners, no losers. There is not a government agency that can not find at least 5% to cut back on. I've been through a couple of up to 20% cuts and we managed and met mission. Publish it and score it. If the agency, department does not meet the goal, relieve the leader adn do it again. Get off your duff and do something!

In my opinion this whole situation comes from we have a govt full of people who haven't had to operate within a budget for years, both professional and personal. Where else can you vote yourself a pay raise, have several houses, health care that is far above the quality of care for average Americans all financed by someone else's money. The wake up call for America should have been when a bill that would require a balanced budget never made it into law. The U.S. is at a very important point in its history, a few more years on the path we are currently traveling on and we will be the United Socialist States of America, for the past few administrations the power & size of our govt has grown at an alarming rate and millions of Americans are just allowing this to happen and becoming govt dependents. Whatever happened to the backbone of the United States? We are becoming the fly that the world shoo's away, I do not understand why so many in the political arena want the U.S. to follow the European model they are in worse shape than us.

In Addition the 1st 3, I would outlaw the implementation of the health care plan completely with no recourse. It is a lousy bill and will cost the AMERICAN people dearly. Corporations and small businesses are already reducing employees hours, next will be the elimination of their health insurance, then jobs nest. Who is kidding who, BIG O, do something worth while for the AMERICAN people and get rid of that stupid OBAMACARE!!! Four years can't come too soon for the AMERICAN people. God BLess America. Nix to Obama.

I appreciate the jam that you are in. However, the sequester is the only sure way to cut anything! That is the problem. If there was an actual move by Senator Warner and his group to cut anything from SS or medicare that takes place during the 2013 - 2014 years, then perhaps there is a chance to have another package take the place of the sequester. But, not likely within the time limits. My top priority would be means-testing SS and Medicare for the top third of recipients NOW (sorry) and smartly cutting defense / state / foreign aid budget by 20- 30%. This would mean changing our foreign policy!! Which is long overdue. Then, because of reckless spending over the last 30 years, everyone will need to have some increase in their taxes (everyone). However, the key will have to be that there is NO NEW SPENDING until the debt falls under the appropriate percentage of GDP which is not likely within the decade, and possibly not within my lifetime. You (Congress) have to stop spending on new promises! We can't pay for the promises you have made already, much less any new ones! Lastly, I would suggest you hire David Stockman to act as a sort of shadow Fiscal / Monetary hawk for the House of Representatives and hold press conferences every week explaining to the public what is going on! The fiscal & monetary strategies playing out border on the absurd!

In Addition the 1st 3, I would outlaw the implementation of the health care plan completely with no recourse. It is a lousy bill and will cost the AMERICAN people dearly. Corporations and small businesses are already reducing employees hours, next will be the elimination of their health insurance, then jobs nest. Who is kidding who, BIG O, do something worth while for the AMERICAN people and get rid of that stupid OBAMACARE!!! Four years can't come too soon for the AMERICAN people. God BLess America. Nix to Obama.

Alternative spending cuts: In May (H.R.5652) and December (H.R.6684) of 2012, the House voted to replace sequestration with recommendations from six committees – Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, Judiciary, Oversight and Government Reform, and Ways and Means - to cancel $98 billion in cuts to discretionary funding. When it comes to cuts why must it always be DoD and Social Security. Why can't we cut foreign aid, government officials pay, entitlement programs, close the many federal governmental departments and give the power back to the states, Education, Agriculture, Energy, etc. I'm not willing to supply Obama phones, medical care to illegals, and food stamps to those that are able to work while our military is reduced and it's faithful soldiers are discarded. Remove the Department of Defense from sequestration completely. With all the strife in Syria and Korea, that alone is enough to show we need to strengthen our military. With a declining dollar and economy the military is the only thing we have going for us. America is weakening on every front. Federal employee attrition: Representative McKeon (R-CA) and Senator Ayotte (R-NH) introduced a bill (H.R.593 and S.263) that would pay for one year of cuts by requiring a reduction in the federal workforce through attrition and a pay freeze for Members of Congress. Congress wages should be cut. They should be there to serve the people. Every position should have a term limit. Who needs people like Nancy Pelosi who have never had a REAL job in their life. Making your fortune off the backs of Americans is not a job. Term limits for ALL!!!! Delay implementation of the healthcare law altogether. Talk to the people who really know what is going to happen when this law is actually implemented. I haven't heard one positive thing from it. Employers are going to pay fines rather than provide insurance so what good does that do. Small businesses can't afford it, poor people can't afford the most basic coverage, companies are changing full time positions to part time positions because if they don't they'll have to close their doors. No tax increase. Every person I know is receiving less wages in their pay checks now because of the recent tax changes. Increasing taxes doesn't do anyone any good. It hurts the economy because individuals have less discretionary income, the businesses won't hire because they don't know how much more and how frequently the taxes are going to increase. So like Apple who now has more money than the government they sit and horde it because they are afraid of what is to come. There is no leadership in this country with a clear direction to encourage them to part with their money. It is obvious to so many, except those in Washington, that the ECONOMY and LACK OF JOBS are the two MAJOR issues in the country at this time. They would rather run around talking about new gun laws and why we shouldn't have a pipeline. Government is TOO big, that's the problem and the perfect place to start cutting. They need to sit down and read the Constitution and if there is a program that isn't directly related to the Constitution then it should be closed. If a particular state wants to run a similar program then it is up to the individual state to do that. The best way to avoid sequestration is start by reducing the size of Government, increasing state responsibilities, and stick to the Constitution which I'm quite sure will clarify that DoD is not the place to begin funding cuts. Thank you!

Congress should be working on a solution rather than waiting for sequestration to kick in. We can take care of everybody's elses country but our own. Why not cut out all of this aide we give to other countries who after all these years should be able to take care of themselves and use it on our own country. It is taxpayers money. Use it to benefit us for a change or better yet cut Congresses pay until they start working for their salary like everyone else If the average citizen work the way congress work they would be fired on the spot. If Congress does not work for the people that sent them there ,they should be fired. People should go to the polls and vote them out until they get people in congress who actually work for the people and not their interest. America would be better for it. Enough is enough. Do your job.

Foreign aid is 1% of our federal budget. 1% folks, that's it. Cutting all aid to foreign countries won't put a dent in anything close to reducing our deficit. Putting Health Care as a "solution" when implementing Obamacare will actually SAVE money and REDUCE the deficit is an amazing way to further the lies that Republicans have been promoting regarding affordable health care for all. That shouldn't even be a choice. Here's the problem. Sequestration is a fabricated "crisis" that should be put where it belongs - in the garbage. It was a threat made two years ago to force Congress to do something and it didn't work. Why are we doing this to ourselves? We know from Greece, Great Britain, Ireland, Spain, etc.. that austerity DOES NOT work. When the budget is cut, what do you think gets cut? Goods and services purchased by the government. Those goods and services are produced by people - they are jobs - so when we cut spending we cut jobs. Why are we cutting jobs when we should be creating jobs? We need more teachers, police, better road and bridges, new schools, high speed trains, etc... We should be investing in our infrastructure because this will result in a better equiped future economy. You cut back in good times and spend in bad. But the problem was that we had two unfunded wars along with tax cuts during the good times and didn't save then. Doing it now will be a disaster.

There needs to be a recognition that the Federal government needs to be reduced across the board. This includes judicious cuts in our defense, particularly in regard to very large staffs, a top-heavy rank structure and an expensive personnel model. While these savings would take time to materialize, they can yield substantial savings over the long haul; fewer admirals/ generals/SES (say a 50% reduction), reductions in captains and colonels (say a 40% reduction), reduction of shore /non-deploying active duty billets (empty by attrition) by 1/3rd, streamlining of major staffs (reduction in manpower by 1/3rd), preventing future personnel from joining the military with dependents, streamlining of service secretary offices and staffs, etc. While some of these steps may sound a bit draconian, a comparison of current work-force versus number of combat units shows a 'tooth-to-tail' ratio that has become too much tooth and not enough tail. Even in the case of support for Iraq and Afghan operations there are still significant percentages of personnel who have yet to deploy. There are obvious questions of savings certain major procurement programs - but what is really needed is a detailed discussion on national goals - which leads to discussions on military capability requirements, acceptable levels of risk, and various strategic options - from which can come meaningful discussions on force structure options - rather than the more or less meaningless 'smorgasbord' approach to weapons systems procurement that keeps cropping up in various media, which each author picking his favorite procurement 'horror story' as proof that such and such "isn't really needed." That being said, options 1, 3, and 4 must also be considered. Thank you for your time. v/r pete

This question is rediculous. All of these "solutions" are temporary patches for a very real, very serious problem of decades of irresponsible spending. The only real fix is a balanced budget amendment that forces responsile spending which nobody want to endure in order to permanently solve the problem. Our nation has obviously not learned the lesson that "financial engineering" is bad and is the cause of this mess. We can't sweep it under the rug, we can't ignore it, we can't dismiss it. It has the potential to destroy our country. The only solution is to pay the money we owe and stop spending money on things we can't afford and stop making promises to provide gevernment services for things that are not within the scope of the federal governments responsibility as defined by the Constitution. Charity is wonderful, but it has no place in government. It belongs in the hands of individuals, private organizations and churches. At 44 years old I'm feeling more and more like our federal government is not acting in the best interest of the nation. Instead the focus is on fulfilling wreckless promises that jeopardize this very union.

Solution I support is repeal all laws and regulations passed since 2009. Close down the EPA, Shut down Department of Health and Human Services. Secure the borders, and every government official from the President on down take a 65% pay cut. And Shut down the Federal Reserve Bank, we know that they are not government.

If we go on sequestration, then Congress's salaries should be sequestered until Congress can finally compromise and get something done and passed. Eliminating the Dept. of Energy would be a good first step. Gas prices rise and all kind of fancy answers are forwarded, most of which are not truthful, other than the Oil companies are looking for bigger profits. We get upset with Greece and other countries that can't manage, but we're no better, except bigger.

I applaud your efforts to tackle these serious issues head on. Sadly, from my perspective, I am not optimistic. Congress has shown no restraint in the growth of government for decades. I'm embarrassed to say I have voted Republican in prior elections. I believe we must take our medicine now; 10% cut in all government spending, means test for SS, lower corporate tax rates, tax Internet sales, simplify the individual tax code, institute proper immigration to allow for faster citizenship, remove heavy handed legislation from health care and capital markets, pass line item veto and require a balanced budget before Congress and President are paid. I don't envy you or underestimate the difficulty of my oversimplified suggestions. They are numerous and each monumental on their own. These are the times that try men's souls. What is your legacy? Will we change before the pain to remain the same is too costly. Only you and your colleagues hold the answers. Thank you for allowing me to express my deep concerns. God bless you and America.

Replace the IRS with the FAIR TAX Act

I think that we should close tax loop holes for the rich, along with some spending cuts, over ten years. But I do believe we should stimulate the ecomony and then do further responsible cut and entitlement reforms. I agree with the president in his approach and I think that republicans are the problem.

I think it should be a combination between some spending cut and some revenues by closing loop holes. Then we should reform our tax code to make it fair to all and some entitlement reform. I agree with the president in his approach in how he is handling this.

I am a DoD employee. There is significant excess capacity with too many stove-piped initiatives and activites. The DoD could absorb the sequestration cuts if the Department was restructured to develop enterprise solutions across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps services. Simply cutting across the board and furloughs is sub optimal and counter productive. There is a lack of authority within the Department to guide, direct, and implement more effective solutions across the DoD.

I just read a statement where the immigrants were allowed to obtain SNAP. I am truly upset with this because I know of American families that are struggling and cannot afford milk and juice for their kids and they work every day. It appears to the working class that they are working to support the non working and immigrants. It also appears to the working class that it will be beneficial to not work because they are being penalize for working.

I believe that the Speaker has it right. The tax increases were already done in January. Now where are the alternative cuts, including adjustments to entitlements? Any of the first four or some combination of them would be better than the sequestration, but so far only some combination of small cuts and increased taxes are all that have been mentioned in the Senate. The President has spent his time campaigning and not working with the Congress on these matters.

Ground Air Force One, Utilize our natural resources, force conress to make a budget that is in the best interest of the American people. Makes laws that reqiure a balanced budget. Block funding for Obama Care.

Best choices are a combination of 2,3, or 4. Absolutely no tax increases - including closing of loopholes without reduction in rates. Otherwise closing loopholes alone is a TAX INCREASE by another name. Support sequestration provided Congress approves the affected Departments are allowed flexibility to determine where the cuts are made. Keep in mind, which ever proposed plans is executed - it only reduces the growth rate of the deficit. It does not reduce it.

Any plan that is created from a heart of compassion, shared responsibility and good math is probably going to be a good one. contrarily any plan that comes from a heart of anger, hatred, malice and non-community (I am not part of them) is probably going to be a bad one and damage the country.

Cut all funding to Planned Parenthood. Block funding for DHS buying tons of ammo. Introduce a flat tax and then massively reduce the IRS since the tax system will be simplified. Cut all foreign aid to Egypt, Pakistan , China and other countries who clearly are not our allies. Why are we giving money to China so they can loan us money? If they can afford to loan us money they don't need foreign aid from us. Do not deliver the fighter jets to Egypt. I can't imagine how that could be a good idea at all. Why should our taxes pay for that?

I believe the only way that this country can get out of the financial mess we are in is to hold the leaders acountable to the dissions that they made. The first cuts to the budget should come from the senators, congressman, and the Presidents pay, including their retirement, all benefits. Then move to a change in the tax code along with across the board cuts.

Picking from your list does not address the issues at the root. All federal programs (including Defense need to be reviewed on a program by program basis and only the most needed AND affordable programs should be funded. For the programs we must have, funding should be provided through taxes and other revenue sufficient to cover the costs fully. Additional revenue necessary to pay down the national debt should also be included in the budget. Expenditures should at no time exceed the revenue available each year. A budget approved prior to the beginning of the fiscal year should be the standard, not Continuing Resolutions otherwise know as Continuing Insanity. I know that requires the House AND Senate to do hard work they are not use to doing on time. I understand there is a town hall meeting on 25 Feb. Can you send the time and place. VR Terry

I support a modified solution #3 (in addition to federal employee attrition, there should also be cuts to the level of federal employment) combined with solutions 4 and 6.

I see none of the 6 offered solutions explicity mention entitlement reform, yet without such action we have little hope of balancing the budget and no hope of reducing debt. I am a retiree and Social Security benefits are important to me. But so is the future of my grandkids. Raising eligibility age seems a no-brainer: we are all living longer. Cost of living increases could be scaled back. I would support these and other similar moves. Regrettably, the political will and political courage to do this seems non-existent in Washington. Shame on our elected officials, and shame on us for threatening to vote against those with the guts to do it !

How much money are giving to other countries, and why are we still doing it? How much do those tanks and jets cost that're going to those nutters over in Egypt? There's so much money wasted that its utterly ridiculous that sequestration has even become an issue.

I'm sick and tired of no comprimise from congress and the delay tactics being used by republicans. Who do I blame if nothing is accomplished? Republicans and their do nothing sessions. I have voted for both republicans and democrats, but I lay the falt for the recession and its being prolonged on the former republican presedent and republicans. Rev. Wayne Harrison

We need to reform Medicare and Medicaid. Sequestration will do little to actually reduce our budget deficient.

Eliminate unemployment compensation beyond 90 days. Eliminate the program whereby welfare recipients receive free cell phones and cell service provided by the government. Reduce number of illegitimate children per mother or family unit that are supported by me (taxpayer) to one per mother or family unit. Slash welfare.

First of all, anyone with a lick of sense knows you can't spend more than you make or it will wipe you out eventually. Stop spending taxpayer $ on programs that perpetuate the myth that it stimulates the economy and helps unemployment. Tax cuts and less government stimulates business growth and that provides the means to solve the financial problem. Stifling domestic energy development in favor of alternative ineffecient "green" energy makes no sense, all resources need to be explored. Do whatever is necessary to dismantle the looming disaster called Obamacare which was foisted upon us as a means to tank our economy, not to provide inexpensive healthcare. America used to lead the world in most every category, now we are the laughingstock around the globe. Finally, remove from office the source of the disease infecting this country, Obama and his stooge Biden and America can start to heal from this cancer that is destroying us. Thank you, Mr. Forbes for your efforts. Keep up the good fight.

An alternative might also include scrapping the present system of taxation which is archiac, cumbersome, ineffective and unfair. An effective and cost effecient system based on a FLAT TAX would be more appropriate to today's economy and political system. The beauty of a FLAT TAX system is EVERYONE PAYS EQUALLY, no percentage brackets, no loopholes, no controversy. There will be resistance as with all change in bureaocy (sp) but in my opinion the benefit would enormously increase the effectiveness and credibility of the taxation system. Respectfully, Bruce Burnett 8613 Whispering Pines Trail Windsor, VA 23487

The cost of government needs to be lowered. Also the amount of retirement is far above Truman's time. It is also out of touch with those you are supposed to serve. People should not be allowed to serve then retire and live in luxury. The founders said serve 2 years then come out and live under that which you created. To many are receiving benefits that they didn't earn. We don't owe it to them

Why do none of the solutions mention foreign aid?! We have people living on the street (look out of you capitol hill offfice and you will see them), government is threatening to not provide upkeep for Navy ships (my brother is about to be deployed) , and the price of food and gas is on the rise (my paycheck has just been cut) but, the ONLY thing that Congress can focus on is cutting domestic spending?! Where are spending cuts to Israel, Saudi Arabia, or Africa?! Please stop putting your desire to pray in Congress foremost on your agenda and deal with the things that REALLY matter!

I believe the sequestration panic is all a ruse! This essentially boils down to cuts in the projected increase which any American who has to budget their household expenses realizes is not a cut at all. Oh, I forgot, we don't have a budget do we? Not for four years now. This is all about cuts in the projected growth, not real cuts. So when the President moans about thousands laid off, cuts in defense, long TSA lines, federal jobs cut... it's all nonsense in my opinion. If real cuts were pending I would say you better cut the money you give to others first and hold in tact the funding for programs here at home. No more money to mosques in the middle east. No more hand-outs to the UN and all the other nations we send millions to. No more pay for the Senat since they have received output from the House repeatedly but refused to act on it. Cut Presidential vacation funding; limit him to 2 vacations a year and his family must go with him if it is to be on our dime. We the people see excess, wasteful spending everywhere but when push comes to shove we're supposed to cower in fear as we are threatened with drastic measures. How dare the President. How dare the Congress allow him to do so. How about the millions U.S.D.A. spent on racists training ? Obviously their budget is too high. We out here in the community are getting mighty tired of the garbage and inaction coming out of D.C. Bring on the sequestration - you know, the one President Obama designed, and while you're at it, can't you guys in the Republican party find a few dollars somewhere to hire a PR firm. BHO is making you look bad every single day and has most convinced this is your fault.

Drastic and immediate non-defense spending cuts are imperative. Congress needs to get, not just tough, but downright nasty with this President by defunding ALL of his Socialist programs, starting with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare). Please tell Speaker Boehner and like-minded colleagues to stop playing Congress -- Of course, I'm not talking about you, Congressman Forbes -- and cut BHO off at the knees! This isn't politics, it is war. I repeat, this is NOT politics. It is WAR. Put an end now to the violence of gun control. Remove the two agents of the International Muslim Brotherhood, Mohamed Elibiary and Mohamed Magid, from the Homeland Security Advisory Council! Put an end to the systematic Islamist-led purge of members of the US Military who speak out against Islamic extremism. By all means, do WHATEVER is necessary to remove Eric Holder from the DOJ. If you can't relate to the things I've said about the Muslim Brotherhood, get with your colleagues Louie Gohmert and Michele Bachmann -- Stephen Coughlin has their ear, which means they know. I head up the Black Robe Regiment of Virginia. Bishop E. W. Jackson is a friend and member of the Black Robe Regiment of Virginia. I will support you in any way that I can, but if you don't tell me how to best support your efforts, I'm hindered in what I can do! God's richest blessings! Rev. William Cook (http://www.brr-va.com).

I agree that sequestration would cripple the Hamton Roads Region, along with many other military regions/states. Yet it is the politicians who have gotten us (U.S.A.) into this predicament in the first place. I feel that the federal gov't is to big, whether local or federal gov't. When are we going to face our lumps? All this political maneuvering just delays the inevitable....pushing the problems away for a few months years. All for the sake if politicians hopes of being re-elected. Not necessarily directed at you sir. Gov't needs to be cut.....period. Both at local and federal levels. Taxes do not need to be raised. I believe that if raising taxes would solve the problem than most working folks would have no problem with it. But we, working class film know that this is a joke. Once those new taxes are emplimented, they will not be eliminated. My taxes and cost of living have increased significantly in the past 4 years. I know and feel it will only get worse in the coming years. I do not know exactly what the fix is, but I believe that our politicians, both demoncrat and republicans have let the good hard working folks of this country down. Demonizing blue collar workers, while voting themselves raises. I could go on and on.....but to what avail sir?

WOW - 568 DAYS OF ABSOLUTELY NO WILLINGNESS TO ACT. You cannot duck responsibility here congressman. I think it is absurd for you to claim that you are willing to work with anybody to keep from harming America. Week after week sir constituents express disgust with what is going on in Washington. In my view you treat voters as if they are stupid. We see through all the politics sir. When representatives begin publically worrying that many members in congress do not care about disaster relief if it doesn't involve their district we have SERIOUS problems. The republican caucus is responsible for all this mess sir and you darn well know it. The president laid it on the line in the State of the Union saying AMERICA DESERVES A VOTE, GABBY GIFFORDS DESERVES A VOTE. We deserve answers sir. Senate filibuster abuse prevents votes. Speaker Boehner refuses votes on Disaster Relief, Violence Against Women, JOBS. The Hastert rule PREVENTS VOTES. The GROVER NORQUIST blackmail pledge that you signed PREVENTS VOTES. Even your staff in Washington and in Chesapeake has been prevented from providing constituents with simple answers regarding your position on mainstream issues that millions of Americans can readily answer. Your staff has told me they are not allowed to answer. You want to tell us why sir? Do you want to tell us why your staff can't tell us whether or not you support an increase in the minimum wage? GOOD GRIEF Congressman Forbes, seriously sir. It is just bizarre the level of obstruction that comes from your office. Sequestration is clearly a republican nightmare from the outset because of the chaotic un-American position on the debt limit that brought the nation to its knees. I still cannot believe that you voted to shove this great nation into default, an act to harm the very private sector you say you support. You hurt my interests Congressman with that vote. You harmed the interests of millions of other citizens with that vote. The vote was deliberate harm and there is no possible way to conclude otherwise sir. I am very, very concerned over your judgment as a result of that act. Sequestration has to be untangled. The following actions need to happen - align with the democratic caucus because your colleagues would prefer to harm Virginians with their positions. Raise taxes by closing ridiculous loopholes. Immediately increase the minimum wage to help stimulate consumer spending. End the outrageous subsidies for the oil and gas industry. Do NOT screw up the health care system any more than you have already screwed it up with delay of implementation of the Affordable Care Act. That idea is morally repugnant Mr. Forbes. Establish significant taxes on all firearm purchases and ammunition sales. Cut the budget of the Judiciary committee that refuses to act on the disturbing problem with voting in America, cut the budget of the Oversight committee that has proven utterly unable to oversee anything, proceed with defense cuts by delaying procurements and drastically cut back funding of the F35. Advance the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. Cut aid to Israel, and to Egypt but not completely. Continue support for Iron Dome only. Move on implementation of a Financial Transaction Tax that can easily, and harmlessly, generate hundreds of billions of dollars. The bottom line sir, tell your republican caucus the country is more important than they are, the country is more important that Grover Norquist, the country deserves representation and that means just VOTE!!!

I support a genuine spending cut. No new base line spending increases. Reduce all government spending by 2% from the 2012 level. Require each government group to develop their own budget with the freedom to appropriate funds for essential operations while reducing discretionary spending. This is what all businesses and families do. It's time the government did the same.

I served my country for 22 years , my father for 35 years in the US Navy. What do I have other than self pride. medical that was promised is mostley gone. Congress/Senetors 100% medical for life. Me and my family very lttle. Now serving my country working for the DOD for over 20 years and what does the peolpe we voted in want do cut my pay 20% by forcing furloughs. insult to injury you guys take a vacation(time off) when you need to be in DC taking care of business. If I took a vacation every time it got hot in the kitchen at work I would be looking for another JOB.. Republican or Democrat dont matter all of you need to get the JOB done...this non support on all your sholders has made the US volunable to our enemies.They are just sitting back and having wine and cheese laughing at the US. Thats enough , I am just a very disapointed american.

Randy I appreciate your work. I support sequestration and auditing the Fed. If we reduce our military spending in half, we still spend more than all other nations combined. Reducing the military industrial complex is the only way to forge lasting peace. The only way the military industrial complex creates revenue is with endless war. The only way to create a thriving economy and create fairness is to audit the Federal Reserve, end the fiat currency, and create a silver/gold backed currency. If we end the Fed we will no longer have bailouts for their banking cronies and stop the madness. I hope Americans wake up to the fact that republican versus democrat is not the issue, but crony capitalism with the cancer starting at the Federal Reserve. Cut out the cancer and the whole body can heal. Be brave and be strong and stand up to the real enemy of the state. Thanks for all you do!

I believe there are better options then those presented. Some form of tax increases (especially on those who could afford to pay more), coupled with cuts that would not cripple our nation but are sensible.

My recommendation would be to let sequestration move ahead, have the 77% of the people who want something different (along with a few more, I think) move to recall all of their senators and representatives for non-performance of their duties. Both parties need to find fresh thinkers, outsiders who have never held public office yet are committed to the good of our country. No retreads please. How does this happen? Randy, you list several things you say you've done or supported regarding the impasse. I notice the list here are almost all House Resolutions. Without senate support, they go nowhere. Back to the same old stand-off, no? Federal worker attrition is already in effect for the DoD. There is a department-wide hiring freeze. Congressional pay cuts? Unconstitutional, I think. So, over the past 2-3 years I think you've been changed from our free thinking representative to another Republican rank and file mouth piece. I'm disappointed Randy. I thought you could be so much more.

I am of the opinion of Michelle Joers & Susan Bouldrey Coon. I will like to add that the pay checks of you Capitol Hill Gang be cut. There should be no retirement unless you have served for twenty years and paid by the state you represent. Health benefit should cease and pickup by the states you represent if your service is less than twenty years. I suggest that we the people take a good look at what the Capitol Hill Gang has done for itself off of the backs of the American people.

Here are some things I would like to see cut: All Funding to Planned Parenthood, which the Republican House has already voted to do, but which Obama and the Democrat Senate insisted be put back in the budget. All funding for NPR (National Public Radio). All aid to the Islamic Brotherhood in Egypt. All funding for Obamacare. Quit paying $26 a gallon for biofuels for the green fleet, when we could be paying the customary $3-$4 a gallon. Quit subsidizing "green energy", which is a payback to Obama's campaign donors and bundlers at the expense of the American taxpayers, their children, and their grandchildren. Quit paying people NOT to work via unemployment benefits. When future generations have to work to pay for people in previous generations who were paid NOT to work, the unfairness of it all is offensive. Even if the future generations didn't have to pay for through income taxes, they'd have to pay for it by having a weakened dollar, since the way irresponsible, profligate politicians usually pay for their squandering ways is through printing money/increasing the money supply, which devalues the currency and is THE cause of inflation.

I recommend that comprehensive tax reform to close (corporate and personal) loop holes. Most of the increased revenue should be used to pay down the debt. Also, there should be thoughtful spending cuts to so called entitlements and other domestic spending. Further, military spending needs to be on the cutting table as well. Our military spending should be based on the recent plans endorsed by the joint chiefs and the president.

Lots of great ideas. In this day and age, why is it that we cannot accurately project the impact of such actions, both economically and regulatory. The Center for American Progress states that we cannot be too heavy handed because "...we rely too heavily on an array of federal services to tolerate such a reduction." The point is that we slowly descended into this quicksand and it has a strong hold on the country, both economically and socially; the solution lies in strong leadership, which should outline a clear plan that pulls us out of this mess. Attrition and low increment cuts in addition to measures to increase our efficiency and reduce waste are sound measures. Additionally, government needs a major reorganization effort (while educating America) on government's role and promotion of private sector growth.

Eliminate redundancy in all federal agencies.

Let's be honest here with disregard of all the rhetoric.. The President suggested them, he has had over a year to change them and the fact that Seqester does not impact deficit reduction, but only applies to future spending cuts are a joke. Why I have not heard someone just ask the President if 4 Trillion + is the norm for the US now and if so why ? All this talk of Obama's 2.5 Trillion he cut is NOT deficit reduction, once again it's future spending growth. SO are we saying as a Nation, that we simply must spend 1 trillion more than we take in to survive ? I have yet heard any politician or person ask Obama that. Are we at a point where we need to raise 4 plus trillion from the American people to keep from borrowing from somone else. I guess we really know why Obama and the Senate Democrates won't submit a budget, it would look ridiculous.

How about stop sending money to foreign countries, stop funding the U.N., stop programs for free cell phones, cut all the freebies like welfare and food stamps. Seriously start drilling for oil in the U.S. and capitalizing on our natural resources and stop giving into the environmentalists because surely if other countries can drill safely, our intelligent citizens of this great country can do it also.

I do not support sequestration, stop foreign aid, we the people do not see the return on investment and start caring for our own folks who needs the Government support (Sandy Victims) The US President needs to stop spending our monies, what is he at now 1 Trillion a year? I dont get it???Who gives this guy permission to give away our hard earned cash (Taxes) we the people have not a clue who he writes checks too? And..... Whats up with always waiting for the law maker to come back off of break? This is a national emergency with no urgency, again I just dont get it?

As a federal employee nearing retirement, I would like to see the workforce reduced through attrition/buyouts. Granted it would be a struggle financially. But not only through attrition, but by removing jobs that are being held vacant just to keep the monies flowing. Those are also considered in the overall budget. How many jobs are vacant, with no intention of being filled. And a pay freeze for Congress, I reiterate my opinion that the LEGISLATIVE BRANCH should only be paid for the days they are actually in full legislative session and not on vacation or the campaign trail. Well, the Democrats need to own up to the fact that POTUS was the one who signed this into law. If he didn't like it, why did he propose it, threaten to VETO anything that would stop it, and then sign it into law? Health care, well, that has done nothing and will do nothing to stop the cost of CARE. It has only reformed the way insurance works. Those who were gainfully employed and CHOSE not to accept insurance are now FORCED to buy insurance, and there were at least 3 or 4 million of the "uninsured" that fell into that category. So how does that put money in their purse....It doesn't.

Members of the House and Senate should not get paid if they are not doing their jobs - taking care of the business of the people. This means you COMPROMISE. Stop corporate welfare. Stop spending money on defending DOMA. Enforce IRS rules about church politicking, or churches pay the consequences (i.e., lose their tax exempt status).

I do not support making federal workers take off one day per week without pay. I do not support increasing taxes. I support taking from the rich and giving to the economy. This sequestration will cripple our country. I support making both sides of the aisle come to a decision and stop taking days off. I support stopping the First Lady from her extravagances. I support taking back our country's business and industry from China and India; put the American people to work. Americans are just as capable of answering a tech support phone call. And let our kids do something with their college degrees. I support keeping our military and defense strong. I support reducing homelessness and hunger. I support helping our Veterans and Seniors.

A compromise is sorely needed! Craft a combination of alternative cuts, taxes increases and small cuts to the military, with a warning to the military to put their "financial house" in order. We cannot afford the sequester!

During World War II the federal government endorsed and promoted War Bond drives to help pay for the nation's war effort. Entertainers and "heros" from the war - among them, John Basilone, toured the country and asked people to invest in America by buying bonds. It worked. Why wouldn't it work today? Instead of taxing the American people in the manner that this President and his colleagues propose and taking money from the American people, ask the American people to buy bonds and thus, invest in America. Instead of borrowing money from China, Iran, Venezuela and other countries, world-wide, why not ask the people of the United States to invest in their country and buy bonds? We are paying interest to the nation's foreign creditors and investing in their countries - paying for, among other things, China's military build-up, why not pay Americans that interest over the course of years and invest in this country? Certainly, Hollywood entertainers, celebreties, music artists, captains of business, sports stars and others wouldn't mind supporting the USA by promoting and encouraging Americans to invest in their country. Bill Gates and Warren Buffett have touted their willingness to pay more in taxes - here's their chance - buy American savings bonds and invest in America.

The tax payers money given to other countries is a good place to start cutting, stop trying to buy loyalty, it doesn't work. Also hold public office to two terms that way we can do away with government retirements for those positions and not allow someone that serves one term to collect retirement paycheck and medical for life, JOIN THE WORKFORCE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. Clean up government corruption trillions could be saved.

Once again ineffective leadership in congress waits until the last minute to address a crisis. This tactic of trying to force constituents to quickly choose a plan without time to fully digest the repercussions is despicable. For the record, most of the special interest loopholes in the above resolutions are the result of lobbyists and corrupt politicians that do their bidding. Why is there no resolution to criminalize speaking with or doing the bidding of lobbyists? It's time to get serious congressman. Introduce a resolution to outlaw congressional/whitehouse interaction with lobbyists and put an end to this outrageous spending problem.

Let's stop the nonsense. If we do not have enough money to pay for the requirements, we have to get additional revenue. I do not want another extension for this mess. I want Congress to work out a viable solution. Sequester is not the answer obviously. Who in their right mind wants to do something that will hurt our fragile economy??? If we get people back to work, won't we have more income? If we have more income, can't we pay down the debt? IF we work together, is there anything we can't do? Please stop this garbage. It is unworthy of the position of Congress and the faith the American people put in you. WORK THIS OUT.

The tax payers money given to other countries is a good place to start cutting, stop trying to buy loyalty, it doesn't work. Also hold public office to two terms that way we can do away with government retirements for those positions and not allow someone that serves one term to collect retirement and medical for life, JOIN THE WORKFORCE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. Clean up government corruption trillions could be saved.

The country is in a delicate situation. We need to maintain vital program, get control over the budget, tackle the debt, and not put the economy into another tailspin when it is still struggling to recover from the devastating effects for the Great Recession. Continuing to bicker over the ideals of nonspecific broad solutions can be compared to a kindergarten playground squabble or Nero's fiddling while Rome burned. Cutting federal spending will cost jobs no matter where they are. Increasing taxes will decrease purchasing power and economic activity. Please face the fact that the solution does not lie in either side as it has been presented. Cuts need to be made surgically to avoid blunt force trauma to the economy. The need for increased revenue and sacrifice from everyone needs to be faced squarely and explained with the reality that no one will really like it. We need to avoid the situation and dilemmas that Greece and other European countries are facing because of austerity. End the senseless and meaningless drama. Craft a solution that will work for the whole country.

As usual, I love how you word your questions to angle the results to your cause. Option 5 & 6 are "tax increases" in as much as they are removing loopholes used by the wealthy and corporations for years. There is nothing in these bills that will raise taxes on 80% of Americans. Of course, if you were to state that in the poll, the middle class person would think this is the way to go. I don't support mandates in a bill to require or prohibit some military acquisitions. I military should be the final say in what they need and how it should be configured - NOT Congress. I also feel that there is a lot of duplication of duties in the government that could be eliminated. Combine the FBI, DEA, ATF, and Imigration Service so we have 1 federal police force. This would create economies of scale and eliminate the problems that exist when all these organizations work the same issues without talking to each other. This is one example. Finally, Congress needs to give back the pay raise just voted in and get on the same retirement and medical plans used by other federal employees. This will save billions.

The key to getting out of debt is grow the economy and real cuts in government. the key to growing the economy is cheap energy. We need to build the keystone pipeline and drill in Alaska and off shore. That would put a bunch of folks back to work. Next we need to look at the Constitution. If a goverment program or agency is not writen there then we need to cut it out. Reduce the size of Government.

We used to have a government of the people, by the people, for the people. That is no longer true. Our leaders in Congress are out of touch with the American People and should not try to appear to speak for us. The members of Congress currently have the lowest approval rating in our history. Most members of Congress are controlled by special interest groups or party politics. Members of Congress should have the same medical plans and limitations on pay and benefits as other Americans. If the sequestration occurs, pay for members of Congress should be stopped as well. We can only look at the evidence which indicates that most members of Congress do not care about the American people. Congress has given over its legislative function to the executive branch which uses Executive Orders and departmental regulations to legislate control of our population. America is sliding into socialism and no one in Washington seems to recognize what our citizens are already experiencing. I pray for our nation and that it will, through some miracle, return to being "One Nation Under God"....

Sir (a courtesy I feel I must force myself to use when better to "earn your way" after a few years of weak contribution), I find myself angry again to see your biased survey with answers that fit only what you want to hear and do, rarely with an answer that rounds out the full story and permits me to add my small perspective. I also find your recent blame of all but you and your GOP colleages who voted no and no and no, and now blame it all on others. Please get back to DC and work to add value to get something done for ALL of us, not just your prejudiced view. Start, perhaps, with the most recent revised Bowles Simpson attempt to help in a more balanced way than I see from either the do-nothing GOP or admin. Try to be balanced for the rest of us.

The Sequestration was a creation of the Republicans when they started an artificial debate holding the debt ceiling hostage. Everyone knows this. The debt was also a creation of the Republicans when they started an unnecessary war in Iraq, prolonged the war in Afghanistan by ignoring it, and create huge tax cuts mostly for the wealthy cutting taxes on dividends in half. They made this debt, we have to remove the Bush Tax cuts to get rid of it. Since some of the cuts are permanent we need to cut military spending. We spend more than the next highest 17 nations combines. We don;t need to outspend the rest of the world on our military. Lets have policies that promote peace and reap the savings at home, like Clinton did when he created the ; largest Bull market ever.

I took the polls today and basically my feeling is that all options should be put on the table. I am tired of the government thinking they have an open checkbook to spend money on useless things when we have so many real issues. I feel the government representatives should be held accountable for the job we the people have given them to do and not the job they want to do. If we are in such financial trouble, they they have put us there and should not be compensated for doing a bad job with spending our money and managing our govenment.

Leave Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid out of any tax cuts. Instead, cut foreign aid and take care of the American people first. Focus on preventing corporations from sending US jobs overseas. Reduce the number of visas issued to bring workers from other countries to the US.

Mr. Forbes, I have listened to this mess about sequestration until I have become sick. I have a novel idea. How about the House pass a budget and send it to the Senate. If they fail to act on it, let the whole government shut down and I mean the WHOLE government. My wife and I raise five children and we had to have a budget or we would not have made it. There were times we had to pick and choose where we would spend our money. This government spends money like a teenager with a charge card and not limit on spending. My federal taxes just went up and it seems my state taxes are about to do the same. I have not had a pay raise in several years and don't anticipate one anytime soon. With the rising cost of gasoline (energy) forcing up the cost of almost everything I find myself falling behind each day. In other words, I can afford less. I understand, wrongly I hope, that welfare recipients receive cost of living increases as my spending power declines and I foot the bill. As much as I would like to blame Obama and the democrats for all this spending and debt I have to note that all spending must pass the House first. You people need to get to work, cut spending, cut taxes, cut regulations and get out of peoples' lives.

I've been a fan of the Bowles/Simpson plan since it was introduced. We must get our debt under control or we will become a second rate nation such as Greece. If our congress can't agree to a reasonable plan such as Bowles/Simpson to attack our ever growing debt to take the place of the sequester, then let the sequester happen. No one wants it, no one likes it but if our elected officials don't have the leadership and foresight to start work on solving the debt problem, the sequester may be the only solution.

This is an amazing collection of insightful comments and wise advice. The U.S. federal government has a serious spending addiction. Like all addicts, the binge spenders and their supporters back home are in denial--so they create distractions, concoct absurd justifications for their actions, attack anyone who points out their illness, and kick the can down the road. They need help. We need them to come to their senses before it's too late--and that day is coming. So far in 2013, the average cost of financing the US debt should be roughly $9 billion per year. That works out to an annual interest rate of 0.053%. When Jimmy Carter was voted out of office, the government's borrowing cost averaged about 16.89% per year. If we were faced with those interest rates today, the US Treasury would have to pay an additional $2.9 trillion per year in interest--just to keep rolling the debt that is on the books today! The extra cost would exceed today's total "budget" for defense, education, welfare, and all the hot button items like Congressional salaries, the First Lady's vacation budget, and foreign aid. We are on a self-destructive course and MUST make drastic changes while we can still survive the bitter medicine that is needed.

Congressman - seriously sir. Are you kidding with this poll, asking us if we supported what you did a year ago that was already rejected? The public needs something better than this Mr. Forbes. It is hard not to laugh sir. In all my years I have never encountered what to me feels incredibly shallow congressional representation. The American people view congress in historically negative terms sir, a fact I know that you are aware of. But it isn't just because you can't get anything done. A HUGE part of this is incompetence sir. When I saw the video of you asking the same question, with a look and tone of voice of absolute uncertainty, of two different defense secretaries in televised public hearings a year apart, I was simply stunned sir. It is just unbelievable. You tell us, several times sir, that you were one of only 17 representatives to vote critical bailouts that not only saved industries, including the financial sector, but the assistance led to profits for the tax payers, BIG profits. The bizarre thing is you don't want to take responsibility for the very chaos that you helped to create in the first place. A sensible legislator should be hiding from a vote like that sir. The voters are NOT stupid Mr. Forbes. You are so far out in the extreme, disconnected from the voters, and it is clear from the tone of these blogs many in the district are unhappy. So my recommendation to you and your staff is to just google the many, many sources in the public domain on how to approach sequestration because it is obvious you do not know how to proceed here sir. I would start with the Tax payers for Common Sense. For love of country congressman Forbes, align with the democrats and get something done today sir. It is not possible to advance the cause of the great state of Virginia and the country in reasoning with the republican caucus.

We need to put a halt to taxation without representation for one. Executive order for Dream Act is one. It will clearly take an increase in taxes to fund such a project. American citizens had no say so in this because it was an executive order. No one person has the right to tell me how my money should be spent, to me that is dictating to me because I can. Totally unaccepatable for someone who is working for me. It's spending such as this, that is why this country is in the financial shape it is. This should go under unnessasary spending for which we could do without as well as plenty of other things that do not impact all citizens as well. People should have to work for these things as they always have.

Help raise revenue by having Congress eliminate the tax benefits, retirement perks, and special exemptions it has voted itself over the years. Let their children repay their tuition loans like the rest of us, and limit the government's contribution to the campaign fund chests of the candidates for public office.

Although I consider myself an independent voter (who most frequently supports Republican candidates), I am thoroughly disgusted with the House Republicans standing in the way of a bipartisan solution to sequestration. I strongly believe that both additional revenue and spending cuts need to be used to avoid sequestration, and I support requiring higher-income taxpayers to pay at least the marginal tax rate paid by middle-class American families. I also believe that until the tax code is revised, all corporations should be paying income taxes on their earnings.

We live off 35,000 (FAMILY of 4) and that's the pay for law enforcement (where you put your life on the line every time you walk out the door) we have not seen a raise in 7 yeah SEVEN years, no cost of living either, yet our medical went up so much we had to drop most of it, dental, vision, & keep the very basics HMO (& it still takes 1/3 of paycheck).........AND the president said 250.000 was middle class....what does that make us...poor! Yet, our property valves went down by 20,000, but our property taxes went up, and now at the grocery store I see another food tax added, I pull from money TAXED when I made it....and it gets taxed again! Car taxes, should be when you buy the car, once only, oh no you pay twice a year for the rest of the cars life more taxes, how is that right? Our medical bills surpass our salaries, and my tax man ask how in "GOD'S" name do you make ends meet. We don't, we cut out everything, we don't buy meat, can't afford it, we eat cheap foods with empty nutrition....could be why we stay sick. No vacations, no extras of any kind.....we PRAY...GOD takes care of us; because this haves and the have nots, is deeply embeded, and until we start respecting our Gov't to help (keep holding your breath).....it's coming (Yeah right)! We need to also respect our planet and think smart...wind, solar, free energy and JOBS...why is it other small countries are so eco-green and off the grid.....yet we can't catch on (I truly believe this country likes being dependent)! Now you want to lay off more people, cut programs for children and the handicapped, ETC, etc....Have you lost your minds? We did not cause this debt, so why are we to suffer......I say Captiol Hill should all surrender their million dollar mansions, take HUGH paycuts and try to live like the rest of us (never happen)....there's half of the debt right there! When we voted you in to office....All of them, our trust was truly tested, and failed, so many forked tongues, and all they do is act like children,,,,fighting about everything, I say GROW UP! We the American People break our backs for this country, and our military DIE for it everyday........Washington D.C. stand up and take notice, get your morals and ethnics together.....say you are at fault, & fix it & not at the cost of US of the USA!!!!! AND we're all sick of you taxing us to death litterly! As for me and mine, we PRAY, because in the end our GOD is our answer...thank you Lord! We didn't take You out of our home.....but You see what this country has become because they did take You out of schools (mass killings), gov't building"s & workplaces (loss of jobs & homelessness), the list is long and until we once again become a GOD fearing country, it will continue to wither, crack & crumble......I'm sorry Lord; as Jesus laid dying on the cross for our sins; "forgive them Father, for they know not what they do"! Amen!

cutting tax loopholes for hedge fund managers and people who own private jets is not a bad thing, please stop making it look as if taxes are going to be raised on the majority of americans, because they will not. i'm sorry, but if you can afford a private jet, you can damn well afford the taxes on the thing. also, the two budgets you endorsed were from the last congress and therefore not valid under the current congress and unable to be acted upon. get serious with the choices, please. there needs to be a combination of continued cuts to spending and the tax loopholes for millionaires, need to disappear. i find it very interesting that when mitt romney suggested that very thing it was a great idea, but when the president says it, it becomes the worst thing ever to happen to america. please be sensible and realistic. every agency's budget can stand a few cuts (defense included) and there should be fewer loopholes to avoid paying taxes.

$110 Billion in spending cuts is a joke, given the fact the Federal Reserve is counterfeiting money at the tune of $85 Billion a month ( week ?) to absorb houses via Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Our President spends $4 million dollars on one vacation, and no one says a word. Or, how about SNAP ... why are we sending our people to Mexico to teach illegal aliens how to collect food stamps when they illegally cross our borders? How much is it costing the taxpayer for our Federal Government to fight states like Arizona in court, because Arizona is trying to enforce our Federal immigration laws? We could cut $110 Billion in a week s by getting out of the housing market, bringing our troops home and putting them on our own borders, and sending the 'King' a 'Sorry Charlie, pay for your own vacations, notification. How can any of you Representatives and Senators actually claim to represent the people when your best answer to our financial woes is to punish the troops, cut social security and medicare (programs the people have actually paid into), add new taxes, etc. How about the Congress and the Senate (and especially the President) working on commission only until you get our deficits straight? How about pushing for a full audit of the Federal Reserve so we can get an up close look at where you (our elected officials) are spending the money, we, the people are expected to pay for. Then, announce the results of when the hearing will take place. I noticed the media never said a word about the first ever partial audit of the Fed. I just happened to run across the clip when Ron Paul headed the 'summary of results' meeting, to find out what the results of that partial audit was. Remember when it came out the Fed funneled $16 TRILLION dollars to Foreign Bankers? STOP SPENDING MONEY that is not directly in accordance with our Constitution. How hard is that concept? I can assure you, our Forefathers never intended for America, a Sovereign Nation, I might remind you, to foot the bills for every Nation that shows up on the map. It is time to cut off ALL Foreign Aid, break ties with the UN, the CFR, the Tri-Lateral Commission, etc. We also need to DEMAND that Obama prove his legitimacy as POTUS, given the fact he works for everybody, except the American taxpayer. He is illegal and you know it, as well as the rest of us. Why hasn't Congress and the Senate exposed him. Why do you even ask the people's opinion, when you do as your darned well please at the end of the day, anyway? Let's see how long this post stays posted.

I for one think this whole issue of the sequester. What most people don't seem to know is that this was an attempt of the House to force the President into an agreement that they sold to him in order to force him to cave on the Debt Limit. Of course the President signed the damn thing. He didn't think he had any choice. So I'm not interested in a radical cut of anything and I haven't heard not one thing from the House that gives a more balance sensable reduction in the debt with this bogus line about raising taxes. I'm here to tell you that the President didn't ask for a tax hike!!! He moved to have the stupid tax vacation that Bush put into action. Now if someone said you could take 10 years before you had to pay another house payment. Now, you wouldn't cry that you had to pay the house payment, you would just pick up and pay the bill. Bush's tax vacation was the stupidist thing he ever did to this country. You want all the perks you enjoy....then you have to pay for them. I for one am not going to agree that the billionairs enjoying their life of Riley without paying the taxes that the rest of us have to pay. Closing loopholes on the very very rich isn't too much to ask. If you don't agree then why is anyone bitching about taxes and entitlements. Fair is Fair. I pay what I can, you pay what you can, the rich need to pay what they can. I for one will push until I am not giving up the miniscule SS benefits, medicare, or any of the other things I have worked my whole life for. It's time we all wake up and learn everything we can about the truth instead of taking the word of some lofty idiot that wants to pull the wool over our eyes. That's what our "elected officials" wants us to believe. INVESTIGATE FOLKS!! Stop listening to Fox News.

It's time for politicians to stop blaming and get to work with one another. Represent we the people.

Congress fiddles while Washington burns. How can Congress continue to do nothing while Obama drives the middle class into ECONOMIC SLAVERY. barry v. pavlina

Several of the above have already said this. I just want to add my name to the list. Keep members of Congress in a room and don't let them out until they come up with a budget. All members of Congress should take a 20% cut in salary and cut their staff in half if they allow this bill to go thru. Cut in half the money you are sending other countries. You borrow fromChina to give them money then we pay the interest. Fire the Carzs. They don't do anything anyway. Also no pension for members of congress when they only serve one term. No offices or staff after they retire. The voters should vote on your perks. Members of congress don't earn their perks anyway. Members of the military and senior citzens need to be helped before a foreign country

Sequestration is obviously the worst of all solutions. However, until Congress remembers that their responsibility is to lead our great nation vice buying votes, mandatory across the board cuts is the only way to address our runaway spending crisis.

I believe it doesnt really matter what we pay our congress as its all paper fiat currency, the USD isn't going to be around for much longer, I viewed this page via the website enclosed which discussed the IMF in 2015 including gold and silver in the SDR's taking the federal reserves power to print more money take a look at this page http://www.investingoldonline.org/gold-and-silver-new-currency its amazing and discusses gold and silver as the new world currency