The White House invited congressional leaders to the White House on Friday — the day that automatic federal spending cuts take effect — to discuss those cuts, NBC News reports.

“Republicans were quick to question why the White House would schedule the meeting only on the final day of the belabored back-and-forth over the cuts.”

Dick Morris says President Obama has a “secret plan” in dealing with the sequester.

“Here’s the answer: He knows the economy is tanking. He realizes that we are headed for a double-dip recession. He expects unemployment to soar. He understands that his almost $300 billion in tax increases this year will drive us into recession. So he needs an out.”

“It will be the GOP’s fault. All the warnings of the dire impact of these across-the-board budget cuts — including a New York Times article about how states fear the economic impact of sequester — are designed to set up a massive blame game in which he excoriates Republicans for the recession.”

A new Washington Post-ABC News poll finds 67% of those questioned disapprove of the “way Republicans in Congress are handling federal spending.”

Key findings: “Forty-four percent of self-identified Republicans approve of how their side is handling spending issues, while 51% disapprove. Even the base of the party is less than enthusiastic about how the congressional GOP has approached the issue — with 50% of conservative Republicans approving and 49% disapproving. Compare that to the nearly nine in ten (87%) of liberal Democrats who approve of how Obama has handled federal spending.”

Roll Call: Senate GOP divided on sequester alternative.

Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) told CBS News it is “outrageous” for the government to release illegal immigrants from detention before the sequester deadline.

Said Boehner: “This is very hard for me to believe that they can’t find cuts elsewhere in their agency. I frankly think this is outrageous and I’m looking for more facts but I can’t believe that they can’t find the kind of savings they need out of the department short of letting criminals go free.”

He added: “I think that the administration is trying to play games — play games with the American people, scare the American people. This is not, this is not leadership.”

Washington Post: “Politically, the president seemed to be trying to cause a split
between Republican lawmakers who are set against raising taxes as part
of a compromise to avoid the spending cuts and those who are open to the
idea.”