So What Is He Going To Cut?

[Tradd]

Given that I deal with the feds daily (CBP, as well as FDA), I was wondering how these agencies were going to be affected. Since my area is the biggest "inland port of entry," both agencies have a large presence here. Representatives from the local trade association met with the local CBP head honcho yesterday. Without being specific, CBP says any cuts will be spread evenly across the board. OT of CBP officers will be cut, but that is a small portion of their budget. Those most affected will be importers clearing perishables or fresh flowers (which need to be inspected). Any possible furloughs wouldn't happen until early-mid April, due to contractual obligations, although that could happen sooner for certain contract employees (IT help desk).

As for FDA: At this time, FDA does not anticipate having to furlough our employees. Other internal measures to absorb the cuts due to sequester will be taken, including reducing travel and training. HHS agencies, including FDA, have not sent the draft OMB memo meant to inform employees of the potential need for furloughs.

Personally, I'm concerned how this is going to affect approval of my brokers license. On Tuesday, I was told the local CBP head had recommended I be granted a license, and all documents were being forwarded to HQ in DC. There is a current backlog of about 400+ license applications, with 2-3 people to go through them and recommend license be granted or not. When I was interviewed by CBP at the beginning of this month, I was told it was going to take at least 90 days, and I'd be lucky if I heard something by Memorial Day!

[Lainey]

Now we're hearing income tax refunds might be delayed. Geez!

But my corporation has already done some of the things Tradd mentioned: no raises this year, no travel except absolutely necessary, contract workers being let go, hiring freeze, etc. etc. So the economic domino effect has already started, and even if this gets settled quickly, the economy will be hurt trying to ramp back up.

[Tradd]

Lainey, I'd not heard that! I received by W-2 about January 20, so I filed by paper. I just was in no mood to mess with the online stuff this year (don't know why). I had my refund direct deposited in my bank account on Feb. 13 or so.

[Alan]

Now we're hearing income tax refunds might be delayed. Geez!

And less than a year ago he told us it would be social security checks. I can't blame the opposition for putting it back on him, it's time to put up or shut up.

[redfox]

It's time for some collaboration to re-emerge. After spending 4 years doing nothing but trying to make Obama a one term President, I have zero faith in Boehner & other R leadership's abilities to wise up & practice the art of governing. What a sorry lot.

[flowerseverywhere]

You can cut the salaries to Senators and congresspeople but um I'm not sure that's where they get most of their money
.

one of the things it would do though is make them see the results of their offices being shut down. They have support staffs, security guards, the people who make the cafeteria food that they see every day they are there. There would be a face to the statistic of a person out of work. I think sometimes that is a big problem with our elected officials. They don't know what struggles their constituents go through they are so detached.

another thing I was thinking is that the sequester, if it forced layoffs or even losing 20% of their pay could get us in a much bigger mess. If people can't pay their mortgage, foreclosures happen. More kid free lunch, more food stamps, more unemployment payments etc. and less taxes going into the coffers. What a mess.

[Alan]

It's time for some collaboration to re-emerge.

I agree. Twice in the past year the House has passed legislation to avert sequestration, only to have the Senate fail to collaborate. The ruling party in Washington seems more interested in continuing down the path to Greece than dealing with a doable budget.

By the way, this will be the fourth year in a row that the Senate has refused to pass a budget, whether it was advanced by the House or presented by the President himself. It is indeed time for the Democratic majority to collaborate. Maybe if they'd done so sooner, sequestration would not have become our last resort.

[bUU]

What they were saying on Bloomberg last night was that there isn't much flexibility with regard to what to cut for this fiscal year. A great deal of the budget is already either expended or committed without practical recourse, so it the cuts are going to fall on the rest of the line items. That's why you hear so much talk about furloughs.

[Gregg]

Gosh, I just hope he cherry picks the cuts so that all the red states feel the pain the most...

I think you can bank on that.

[Lainey]

It's time for some collaboration to re-emerge. After spending 4 years doing nothing but trying to make Obama a one term President, I have zero faith in Boehner & other R leadership's abilities to wise up & practice the art of governing. What a sorry lot.

+1 Republicans haven't grasped that they are the minority party. "Collaboration" to them means Dems must do everything they demand.