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Republicans rip White House for putting tax dollars on line over possible defense lay

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Republicans rip White House for putting tax dollars on line over possible defense layoffs | Fox News

If a $16 trillion debt wasn't enough for taxpayers to lose sleep over, the Obama administration has offered to pick up the check -- at taxpayer expense -- for legal costs associated with defense industry layoffs should automatic Pentagon cuts be triggered.
Republicans are now crying foul over the move, accusing the White House of playing politics over the possibility of mass layoffs. At issue are the crush of Pentagon budget cuts set to go into effect starting in January should Congress fail to avert them. Under federal law, many employers are supposed to give 60-day notice of "mass layoffs" if they are considered likely, but the Obama administration for months now has urged companies not to do so.
Last week, the administration doubled down on that plea by offering to cover legal fees in compensation challenges.

Even though the (White House budget office) directive purports to protect the defense industry against the costs of not complying with the WARN Act, they cannot guarantee how the courts would rule in such an action. Thus the president has pledged to compound the impact of sequestration by dedicating already scarce resources to cover needless court costs," McKeon said.
Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., also said it was "troubling that the Obama administration would openly encourage the violation of federal law and offer to pay the legal fees that resulted."
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., claimed Obama was trying to prevent layoff notices from hitting mailboxes "right before the election."
"This is typical Barack Obama politics -- being supportive of the WARN Act when convenient and against it when it creates political downside," Graham said. "This is the most outcome-based White House in memory."

The notices are required under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act and generally require employers with more than 100 employees to provide 60-day notices of "mass layoffs if they are reasonably foreseeable."

This is just getting ridiculous, does anyone in Washington follow the law anymore?
 
Re: Republicans rip White House for putting tax dollars on line over possible defense

I agree with Republicans on this one. These people deserve to know their jobs are up in the air, and the taxpayers should not be paying to help Obama avoid negative PR.

I guess an argument can be made that he is trying to prevent panic in the market, but it comes across far too self-serving to me.
 
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Re: Republicans rip White House for putting tax dollars on line over possible defense

The offer to pay the legal fees was included in a memorandum issued by the administration Friday that also restated the Labor Department's position from July that contractors should not issue written notices to employees because of the "uncertainty" over the across-the-board cuts to the defense budget and other federal spending that will occur Jan. 2 unless Congress reaches a new deal.

The notices are required under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act and generally require employers with more than 100 employees to provide 60-day notices of "mass layoffs if they are reasonably foreseeable."

The projected $500 billion in Pentagon cuts under the so-called sequestration will occur because Congress failed to agree on a deficit-reduction plan in the wake of the deal last summer to raise the debt ceiling.

The guidance issued by the Labor Department this summer stated "it is neither necessary nor appropriate" for federal contractors to issue the warnings.

The latest memorandum states the federal government would cover employee compensation under the WARN Act -- "irrespective of the outcome" as long as the contractor follows the Labor Department guidelines.

Read more: Republicans rip White House for putting tax dollars on line over possible defense layoffs | Fox News

Highlighted some important details here:

A) There's always the possibility that Congress will reach a new deal. Considering the amount of federal workers this entails, I would be shocked if they didn't.

B) It doesn't seem like the layoffs are a guarantee. To me, it seems like Obama is confident that Congress will reach a new deal and he is will to compensate the workers if Congress fails to do it's job.

This isn't about Obama, but Congress yet again failing to do their job.
 
Re: Republicans rip White House for putting tax dollars on line over possible defense

Highlighted some important details here:

A) There's always the possibility that Congress will reach a new deal. Considering the amount of federal workers this entails, I would be shocked if they didn't.

B) It doesn't seem like the layoffs are a guarantee. To me, it seems like Obama is confident that Congress will reach a new deal and he is will to compensate the workers if Congress fails to do it's job.

This isn't about Obama, but Congress yet again failing to do their job.

I can see some of what you say, but a business has to plan based upon the current law, not what it could change to in the future. It is Obama's fault alone, not exclusively, but he really didn't support the Simpson-Bowles Commission and because there was not the necessary agreement on the proposals, the cuts and tax increases became mandatory.

I'm a big fan of zero based budgeting rather than baseline budgeting. Unfortunately Congress isn't in that business.
 
Re: Republicans rip White House for putting tax dollars on line over possible defense

Highlighted some important details here:

A) There's always the possibility that Congress will reach a new deal. Considering the amount of federal workers this entails, I would be shocked if they didn't.

B) It doesn't seem like the layoffs are a guarantee. To me, it seems like Obama is confident that Congress will reach a new deal and he is will to compensate the workers if Congress fails to do it's job.

This isn't about Obama, but Congress yet again failing to do their job.

this

and that Obama deftly eliminated one of their propaganda tools for the upcoming election
 
Re: Republicans rip White House for putting tax dollars on line over possible defense

I can see some of what you say, but a business has to plan based upon the current law, not what it could change to in the future. It is Obama's fault alone, not exclusively, but he really didn't support the Simpson-Bowles Commission and because there was not the necessary agreement on the proposals, the cuts and tax increases became mandatory.

I'm a big fan of zero based budgeting rather than baseline budgeting. Unfortunately Congress isn't in that business.

Of course there is going to be a compromise deal. Not even the teapublicans would be assinine enough to tank a deal.

It wasn't obama that blew up simpson bowles, it was ryan. He and his congressional cronies voted against it, while all the republican senators on the panel voted for it. Hmmmm.

Zero based budgeting in government - can you imagine the chaos? It would be fun to watch especially the cat fights when this or that program got x% more or less. Certainly perk things up.
 
Re: Republicans rip White House for putting tax dollars on line over possible defense

Highlighted some important details here:

A) There's always the possibility that Congress will reach a new deal. Considering the amount of federal workers this entails, I would be shocked if they didn't.

B) It doesn't seem like the layoffs are a guarantee. To me, it seems like Obama is confident that Congress will reach a new deal and he is will to compensate the workers if Congress fails to do it's job.

This isn't about Obama, but Congress yet again failing to do their job.

Perhaps there will be a deal, but there is no deal now and the law requires a 60-day notice of layoffs. No one in the administration has the authority to issue a waiver, and Obama has no authority to compensate either the companies or the workers for legal expenses or lost wages.
 
Re: Republicans rip White House for putting tax dollars on line over possible defense

Of course there is going to be a compromise deal. Not even the teapublicans would be assinine enough to tank a deal.

But the Obamabots would be asinine enough to tank a deal, just like they did last time.
 
Re: Republicans rip White House for putting tax dollars on line over possible defense

Of course there is going to be a compromise deal. Not even the teapublicans would be assinine enough to tank a deal.

It wasn't obama that blew up simpson bowles, it was ryan. He and his congressional cronies voted against it, while all the republican senators on the panel voted for it. Hmmmm.

Zero based budgeting in government - can you imagine the chaos? It would be fun to watch especially the cat fights when this or that program got x% more or less. Certainly perk things up.

You might think that there will be a compromise deal and there might, but businesses have to plan for the law as it is today and since the WARN act has a 60 day notification, they are put in a position to comply with the law. They could just as easily abolish the WARN act but we know that won't happen.

Yes Ryan was one of the 7 no votes (the no votes included 4 D's and 3 R's) but it's not like Obama lobbied any of the members on how to vote. How about this, more Republican Senators voted for it than Democratic Senators. See, numbers can presented a lot of ways to show bias one way or the other.
 
Re: Republicans rip White House for putting tax dollar

Perhaps there will be a deal, but there is no deal now and the law requires a 60-day notice of layoffs. No one in the administration has the authority to issue a waiver, and Obama has no authority to compensate either the companies or the workers for legal expenses or lost wages.

It is only required if mass layoffs are forseeable in the future and the Labor Department has stated that this is not the case.
 
Re: Republicans rip White House for putting tax dollars on line over possible defense

I agree with Republicans on this one. These people deserve to know their jobs are up in the air, and the taxpayers should not be paying to help Obama avoid negative PR.

I guess an argument can be made that he is trying to prevent panic in the market, but it comes across far too self-serving to me.

All of this, and:

What about the livelihoods of potentially laid off workers? If layoffs are imminent they should be given the opportunity to plan for that inevitability and seek out employment they can jump into at or before the layoffs take place.

My boyfriend's mother worked for a company that moved all operations to Georgia. She was given an option six months before the move: Come with us or accept a severance with your last date being January 4th, 2012. It just seems like the right thing to do, whether it's mandated by law or not.
 
Re: Republicans rip White House for putting tax dollars on line over possible defense

But the Obamabots would be asinine enough to tank a deal, just like they did last time.

way to re-write history there.
Or do you always get your news from Fox?
 
Re: Republicans rip White House for putting tax dollars on line over possible defense

You might think that there will be a compromise deal and there might, but businesses have to plan for the law as it is today and since the WARN act has a 60 day notification, they are put in a position to comply with the law. They could just as easily abolish the WARN act but we know that won't happen.

Yes Ryan was one of the 7 no votes (the no votes included 4 D's and 3 R's) but it's not like Obama lobbied any of the members on how to vote. How about this, more Republican Senators voted for it than Democratic Senators. See, numbers can presented a lot of ways to show bias one way or the other.

mea culpa. I did not realize that 4 dems also voted against it.

This debt commission and its follow on in 2011 were toasted because of medicare and taxes The two sides were diametrically opposed with the reps wanting "voucherization" and the dems simply not interested in that. At a time of economic crisis to let ideology get in the way of solving the problems is unforgivable. Both sides are guilty. Can playing with citizens economic future for the sake of political point scoring and ideological intransigence be any sadder?
 
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Re: Republicans rip White House for putting tax dollars on line over possible defense

Highlighted some important details here:

A) There's always the possibility that Congress will reach a new deal. Considering the amount of federal workers this entails, I would be shocked if they didn't.

B) It doesn't seem like the layoffs are a guarantee. To me, it seems like Obama is confident that Congress will reach a new deal and he is will to compensate the workers if Congress fails to do it's job.

This isn't about Obama, but Congress yet again failing to do their job.
No...this is about congress failing to come to an agreement AND the WH trying to cover up the layoffs so it wont affect the election.
 
Re: Republicans rip White House for putting tax dollar

It is only required if mass layoffs are forseeable in the future and the Labor Department has stated that this is not the case.

If the layoffs are reasonably forseeable, which they certainly are in light of Congressional performance to date. The Labor Department has nothing to contribute to this question.
 
Re: Republicans rip White House for putting tax dollars on line over possible defense

way to re-write history there.
Or do you always get your news from Fox?

There is no history rewrite in my post. Sorry if you are disappointed.
 
Re: Republicans rip White House for putting tax dollars on line over possible defense

I agree with Republicans on this one. These people deserve to know their jobs are up in the air, and the taxpayers should not be paying to help Obama avoid negative PR.

I guess an argument can be made that he is trying to prevent panic in the market, but it comes across far too self-serving to me.

The Republican inssited and voted for the sequestration cuts and now are cryng like the little children that they are. Actions have consequences, intelligent people learn that by the time they are 5.
 
Re: Republicans rip White House for putting tax dollars on line over possible defense

No...this is about congress failing to come to an agreement AND the WH trying to cover up the layoffs so it wont affect the election.

So Obama talking about compensating workers that get screwed over by a do-nothing Congress is supposed to be a bad thing?
 
Re: Republicans rip White House for putting tax dollars on line over possible defense

No...this is about congress failing to come to an agreement AND the WH trying to cover up the layoffs so it wont affect the election.

There will be no reason for the Republicans to hold up a deal after the election and that is what the Whitehouse believes will happen. Meanwhile it is business as usual for the obstructionist party.
 
Re: Republicans rip White House for putting tax dollars on line over possible defense

The Republican inssited and voted for the sequestration cuts and now are cryng like the little children that they are. Actions have consequences, intelligent people learn that by the time they are 5.
Do tell...which 'cuts' did republicans vote for? Did this not come about because the 'supercommittee' of democrats and republicans couldnt come up with a handful of DEFICIT cuts (not debt cuts) over a 10 year span?

I dont think people are whining about the cuts. I think people are upset that the White House is attempting to bribe contractors to NOT issue pink slips for layoffs because they know it will hurt their unemployment numbers. I think people are upset that the White House is offering to use taxpayer dollars to pay for fines and legal challenges the companies will face if the fail to offer said pink slips.
 
Re: Republicans rip White House for putting tax dollars on line over possible defense

There will be no reason for the Republicans to hold up a deal after the election and that is what the Whitehouse believes will happen. Meanwhile it is business as usual for the obstructionist party.
Not real strong on reading...or reading comprehension are you? Nope...like a good little Sheriff Woody doll you have to spew that party line without regard to ANYTHING actually relevant to the OP, article, or what actually happened.

The democrats and republicans could not agree to a few trillion in DEFICIT cuts over a 10 year span. At 1.4 to 1.8 TRILLION in annual deficit spending, they guaranteed to add at least 14 TRILLION in debt over 10 years. That is what triggered the automatic cuts. Both parties were acting like children.
 
Re: Republicans rip White House for putting tax dollars on line over possible defense

The Republican inssited and voted for the sequestration cuts and now are cryng like the little children that they are. Actions have consequences, intelligent people learn that by the time they are 5.

You have no idea what you're even saying. You don't even know what Krhazy was referring to. Your post makes no sense in the context of this thread or as a response to Krhazy's post.

The only thing that went through your mind was REPUBLICANZ BAD!!!! MUST SAY SO!!!!!
 
Re: Republicans rip White House for putting tax dollars on line over possible defense

So Obama talking about compensating workers that get screwed over by a do-nothing Congress is supposed to be a bad thing?
Thats not what he is doing. He is bribing the companies to not issue pink slips because they are afraid it will make them look bad before the election. He is offering taxpayer dollars companies to cover legal challenges for the companies NOT following the law. Did you actually read any of this?
 
Re: Republicans rip White House for putting tax dollars on line over possible defense

Do tell...which 'cuts' did republicans vote for? Did this not come about because the 'supercommittee' of democrats and republicans couldnt come up with a handful of DEFICIT cuts (not debt cuts) over a 10 year span?

I dont think people are whining about the cuts. I think people are upset that the White House is attempting to bribe contractors to NOT issue pink slips for layoffs because they know it will hurt their unemployment numbers. I think people are upset that the White House is offering to use taxpayer dollars to pay for fines and legal challenges the companies will face if the fail to offer said pink slips.

Of course they are whining about the cuts, how disingenuous can you be? The House already passed "legislation" to eliminate the defense cuts and substituted cuts in social programs. Obama is ready to deal but the GOP wants to make Obama look bad instead. The President knows there is no point in talking to them now, they have a one track mind....again like children
 
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