WASHINGTON – There’s just two days remaining before the sequestration deadline arrives in Washington. March 1 is the date that federal funding will be slashed across the board unless members of the Republican controlled House of Representatives and Democrat-led Senate can reach a spending agreement. At issue is whether or not Washington should cut spending for specific federal programs, or whether it should increase taxes to continue to pay for existing programs.
Locally, Chautauqua County Congressman Tom Reed (R-Corning) has been talking with local officials and community leaders, relaying to them what the cuts would mean to their operations. Last week, the Corning Republican held a series of conference calls with hospital administrators, school superintendents, college presidents, and local elected officials, in addition to a number of meetings with groups including AARP and constituents throughout the district.
Reed said during the talks, he’s heard overwhelming support for the need to cut spending to combat the nation’s debt crisis as well as a renewed call for no additional tax increases.
With less than a week until sequestration cuts take effect, Reed again called on the Senate to take action. Yesterday the Democratic-led Senate finally put forward draft legislation, although it includes tax increases for the nation’s most wealthy to help offset a spending gap. The House passed legislation on two separate occasions to realign cuts associated with sequestration.
Reed said the government needs to find 5.8 percent in spending cuts in order to prevent the sequester from going into effect. He added that any business or family in the country would be able to make those cuts if necessary and its time the federal government does the same.
New York state stands to lose nearly $43-million in funding for primary and secondary school programs if major, federal budget cuts take effect this coming Friday.
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