Boehner blames Obama's 'non-stop' campaign for failure to stop sequester

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Tuesday blamed Washington's failure to avoid the coming sequester on President Obama's "non-stop" campaigning, which he said has deprived Congress of any White House leadership on this issue.

Boehner spoke on the House floor shortly after noon — something he rarely does — after several Democratic members of the House called on House GOP leaders to work harder on a sequester replacement.

"I hear my colleagues on the other side of the aisle complaining about the president's sequester," Boehner said. "It's the president that insisted that this sequester be part of the Budget Control Act a year and a half ago."

He said all of Washington has known the cuts were coming, which is why the House passed two bills last year as possible alternatives. But said Obama has failed to act.

"There are better and smarter ways to cut spending," he said. "But the president is out doing his campaign events non-stop, when he could be sitting down with Senate leaders to actually act.

"The House has acted twice. It's time for the president to put his plan on the table. It's time for Senate Democrats to put their plan on the table to avert this sequester that's due to go into effect on Friday."

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