PIQUA â House Speaker John Boehner was in Piqua Saturday for the 22nd annual Farm Forum, but one day removed from across the board budget cuts, sequestration dominated the discussion.
âOn the issue of sequestrationâ said John Boehner, House Speaker to begin his comments at the forum.
Boehner usually brings together experts in agriculture to discuss the farming industry. He did briefly talk about some concerns of farmers.
âAfter record high prices last year for beans and corn, thereâs concern about whatâs going to happen this yearâ said Boehner.
Sequestration and the politics behind it is what dominated most of Boehnerâs comments. The House Speaker says the House of Representatives did its part to avoid Sequestration, and instead lays blame on other branches of government.
âThe President never offered a plan, the Senate never offered or passed a plan to deal with the sequesterâ said Boehner.
Sequestration brings deep budget cuts to agencies relying on federal dollars like the military, programs like Meals on Wheels and Headstart.
âIt wasnât like we didnât know this was coming, weâve known for 16 months that the Sequester was hanging out there, unless Congress actedâ said Boehner.
Boehner says the federal government has more incoming revenue than ever before, yet the deficit remains, and the effort to reduce government spending still has a long way to go.
âThese cuts are going to be harmful, theyâre going to have unintended consequencesâ said Boehner.
Next week, Boehner says the House will attempt to pass a continuing resolution to help fund the government through September.