Sequester Cuts Look Certain as Senate Bills Fail

In case you were expecting a sequester miracle: Two separate measures to stem the crisis before tomorrow's deadline failed in the Senate today, as expected. One was from Democrats and the other from Republicans, but both were doomed even before the votes. They were placed in consideration as a tactic to allow senators to underline their partisan loyalty and to try to save their parties from public blame for any resulting inconvenience or disruption in government services.

President Obama is meeting congressional leaders of both parties tomorrow as the $85 billion in spending cuts kick in, and no other last-second options appear to be on the table. The meeting, the first face-to-face one since Obama was sworn in for his second term in January, essentially looks past the cuts to the next looming fiscal crisis: a possible government shutdown at the end of March. (More sequester stories.)