Democratic Ranking Members to Boehner, Committee Chairs: Begin Immediate, Bipartisan Negotiations to Replace Sequester with Balanced Plan

Washington, D.C. – Ranking Democratic Committee Members today called on Speaker Boehner and GOP Committee Chairs to begin bipartisan negotiations immediately to replace sequestration with a balanced deficit reduction plan in order to avoid economic uncertainty and devastating consequences to our economy, small businesses, and the middle class.

As the Ranking Members wrote in their letter, “We all agree that a sequester starting in January, 2013 is not in the country’s best interest and is not the best way to assure responsible deficit reduction.  The American people want us to work together to avoid unnecessary economic uncertainty at this crucial time in our recovery.”

Further, the letter states, “We strongly recommend that this bipartisan process begin before the August recess so that the American people can be reassured before September 30 that the sequester will not take effect.”