Sequestration Is Coming; Time to Panic!

By Nathan Young on February 28, 2013

Sequestration is most likely coming on March 1st. This is a series of across the board spending cuts that will impact all parts of the federal government. Totaling $1.2 trillion over 10 years. The cuts would be split 50-50 between defense and domestic discretionary spending. The impacts across the country will hurt everyone, or so that’s what the media is saying. Alabama’s impact to Sequestration will be tough! Most of the impacts will be felt in the Huntsville and Anniston areas. From NBC News; they interviewed workers at the Anniston Army Depot and Redstone Arsenal.

The White House released the impacts of Sequestration in Alabama. I think some of this is stretching the truth.

Teachers and Schools: Alabama will lose approximately $11 million in funding for primary and secondary education, putting around 150 teacher and aide jobs at risk. In addition about 21,000 fewer students would be served and approximately 40 fewer schools would receive funding.

Education for Children with Disabilities: In addition, Alabama will lose approximately $9
million in funds for about 110 teachers, aides, and staff who help children with disabilities.

Work-Study Jobs: Around 940 fewer low income students in Alabama would receive aid to help them finance the costs of college and around 280 fewer students will get work-study jobs that help them pay for college.

Head Start: Head Start and Early Head Start services would be eliminated for approximately 1,100 children in Alabama, reducing access to critical early education.

Protections for Clean Air and Clean Water: Alabama would lose about $2 million in environmental funding to ensure clean water and air quality, as well as prevent pollution from pesticides and hazardous waste. In addition, Alabama could lose another $1 million in grants for fish and wildlife protection.

Military Readiness: In Alabama, approximately 27,000 civilian Department of Defense
employees would be furloughed, reducing gross pay by around $176.9 million in total.

Army: Base operation funding would be cut by about $91 million in Alabama.

Air Force: Funding for Air Force operations in Alabama would be cut by about $8 million.

Law Enforcement and Public Safety Funds for Crime Prevention and Prosecution: Alabama will lose about $230,000 in Justice Assistance Grants that support law enforcement, prosecution and courts, crime prevention and education, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment, and enforcement, and crime victim and witness initiatives.

Job Search Assistance to Help those in Alabama find Employment and Training: Alabama will lose about $472,000 in funding for job search assistance, referral, and placement, meaning around 16,600 fewer people will get the help and skills they need to find employment.

Child Care: Up to 500 disadvantaged and vulnerable children could lose access to child care, which is also essential for working parents to hold down a job.

Vaccines for Children: In Alabama around 2,110 fewer children will receive vaccines for diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, whooping cough, influenza, and Hepatitis B due to reduced funding for vaccinations of about $144,000.

Public Health: Alabama will lose approximately $457,000 in funds to help upgrade its ability to respond to public health threats including infectious diseases, natural disasters, and biological, chemical, nuclear, and radiological events. In addition, Alabama will lose about $1,180,000 in grants to help prevent and treat substance abuse, resulting in around 1,600 fewer admissions to substance abuse programs. And the Alabama State Department of Public Health will lose about $165,000 resulting in around 4,100 fewer HIV tests.

STOP Violence Against Women Program: Alabama could lose up to $102,000 in funds that provide services to victims of domestic violence, resulting in up to 400 fewer victims being served.

Nutrition Assistance for Seniors: Alabama would lose approximately $865,000 in funds that provide meals for seniors.

With the national debt approaching $17 trillion, America can not afford to keep spending money we don’t have! Currently, the U.S. takes in about $2.49 trillion in Federal tax revenue, but spends about $3.54 trillion. This results in huge budget deficits. And we have carried a trillion-dollar deficit every year over the last three years. To sum it up; America needs to get its spending under control! President Obama has not been able to pass a budget in over four years, mostly due to the Senate. Things in Washington needs to change folks!

I am getting tired of the do nothing Congress! Both Republicans and Democrats finger point and blame the other party 24/7! I see this online and on the TV news channels. With all of this blame going on; it has spread onto social media and the comments. Whenever there is a story about politics, you are bound to see many nasty comments. So what you don’t like Obama or the Republicans. The people spreading hate via the comments is going to do nothing to solve this political division. Combine the comments with the cable news channels, then you have a recipe for disaster.

I have been out of work for 21 months now! It has gotten so bad that I walked around downtown Anniston wearing these signs saying “looking for work.”

Of course, some people have taken it to me being out of work saying things like “quit being lazy”, or “get a job loser.” I think this is mostly because people are so frustrated with the way things are going right now. Until we see the hate online and on cable news end, until we see both parties in Washington working together, until we see this country turn around, nothing will get better! I wish we would go back to the days of people working together for a better America.

My local Representative; Rep. Mike Rogers is trying to stop the Sequestration. He is wanting to replace the Sequestration cuts with smarter spending cuts. And this video of him speaking in the chamber is something you need to watch!

And here is Mike Rogers talking about the impact of Sequestration on the Anniston Army Depot.

I have Asperger’s Syndrome; and one of my beliefs is people needs to be loving and agreeing to each other. Right now; people are arguing, fighting, bad-mouthing, and at war with each other. I wish people would start agreeing on things once again instead of taking the my way or the highway type of attitude.

You know the politicians in Washington will continue to act like babies when you see videos like this. Blogger Michelle Malkin spoofed the Michelle Obama / Jimmy Fallon dance video with one of her own.