Why sequester 'crisis' is a joke - Obama delivers half billion to Palestinians

[Igel]

7. Not entirely true.

Depends where the cuts fall and what the appropriations says.

The WH has a pool of money for operations. One thing funded by that pool is the WH tours.

NASA has a pool of money for a variety of operations, including the educational and public outreach.

In each case, it's been decided that other things that the money also covers are more important.

It's easy to be cynical. The WH billed the sequester as a kind of fiscal cliff with immediate horrible results. The results have been muted. Except for some horrible results that are at least on the surface voluntary.

Whether or not they're really voluntary depends on what *isn't* being cut. Was it a choice between the Mars mission and the NASA outreach programs? Or was it a choice between upgrading the executive washroom versus the outreach programs? I haven't seen.

Was it a choice between the WH tours and optional visits to Camp David or other presidential trips to Iowa or Idaho? Or was it a choice between the WH tours and some vital function like the switchboard? Again, dunno.