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The USAF Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base northeast of Las Vegas on Tuesday, June 26, 2012.
By Karoun Demirjian (contact) 
Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013 | 2 a.m.
Sun coverage
Sequester cuts hitting home
According to the White House, Nevada is set to lose federal funding for:
• 170 teachers, including 50 in special education; affecting at least 14,000 children
• Head Start services for about 300 children, and child care services for another 100
• Approximately $2 million for various conservation-related matters
• 3,000 civilian employees of the Defense Department
• Approximately $1 million in public health programs, and another $78,000 for children’s vaccines
• Job search, referrals and placement programs for approximately 10,800 people.
• $424,000 for programs that provide meals to seniors
• $181,000 in law enforcement grants
One hundred and seventy teachers. Three thousand civilian employees of the Defense Department. Nearly 11,000 job seekers. Not to mention anybody whose livelihood depends on tourists coming to town.
According to the White House, these are just some of the Nevadans who will be affected by the force of the sudden budget cuts known as the sequester, should it go into effect on Friday.
The cuts “will slow our economy, eliminate good jobs, and leave a lot of folks who are already pretty thinly stretched scrambling to figure out what to do,” President Barack Obama said Monday. “These cuts do not have to happen. Congress can turn them off anytime with just a little bit of compromise.”
But with only four days left — and only faint signs that a deal is in the works — state, county and local institutions that rely on federal government dollars to keep going are bracing for the fiscal blow.
The sequester would result in about a 10 percent, across-the-board cut in federal funding for affected federal departments and agencies.
Local and state institutions that depend on that money have known since Congress approved the sequester that half of the cuts would come from military and security, and half from other programs. But until this week, it was not clear how much of the 10 percent cut would trickle down to each state.
In Nevada, the defense budget for payroll at Nellis Air Force Base and Fallon Naval Air Base is being slashed by $12.1 million. Base operations for the Air Force are being slashed by about $2 million on top of that.
That may seem like a drop in the bucket when compared with the military’s overall budget: In fiscal 2011, for example, the payroll for just Nellis Air Force base was $856.1 million, $302.2 of that directed toward civilian employees and contractors.
But for the 3,000 civilian employees of Nevada military bases who will be furloughed, it’s a pay cut.
Nationally, many of the country’s aviation personnel — including TSA security officers and Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers — will also be furloughed, for up to seven work days.
Transportation Security Administration supervisor Nick Fox, right, demonstrates new software being tested with advanced imaging technology at McCarran International Airport, Feb. 1, 2011, in Las Vegas.
When multiplied by 50,000 TSA screeners and thousands more air traffic controllers and technicians, the reduction in man hours is expected to be realized in longer lines at airports, and fewer planes flying through the air.
That is not good news for Nevada’s tourism sector, which depends on people flying in and out of the city with as few complications as possible.
“In Southern Nevada we’re really concerned. McCarran has 41 million come through that place every year,” Sen. Harry Reid said Monday. “We’re told there are going to be long waiting lines; we don’t need that, it should be avoided — it’s unnecessary.”
Nevada’s education sector could also face setbacks because of the sequester.
Clark County, the largest school district in the state and the fifth-largest school district in the country, was recently selected for special federal funding as part of the Turnaround Schools initiative. But that money isn’t sequester-proof.
In its state-by-state report, the White House estimated that Nevada would lose almost $13 million in federal funding for primary, secondary and special education programs. That equates to 170 teacher and teacher aide positions that might be eliminated.
Head Start funding and child care grants are also on the list of cuts.
Kindergarten teacher Paula Barry helps Jasmine Ybarra with a drawing at Elizondo Elementary School in North Las Vegas on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011.
In public health, more than $1 million will disappear from programs such as child vaccines, HIV testing and infectious diseases. Several hundred thousand dollars are also set to be slashed from police initiatives, and job training.
When he first proposed the sequester, Obama bet that its terms, now outlined in detail, would be so awful that lawmakers would not even conceive of letting their disagreements allow them to take effect.
And Nevada lawmakers of both political stripes do agree that the sequester cuts would be awful for the state.
“Yesterday’s report from the White House only served to remind us that the across-the-board cuts will eliminate good-paying jobs in Southern Nevada and put services that protect our nation, support our economy, educate our children, and invest in our future on the cutting block,” said Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev.
“Certainly the cuts to various programs as outlined by the White House and other studies would have a negative impact on citizens in Nevada,” said Greg Lemon, a spokesman for Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev.
“These are not just numbers in a spreadsheet; real people will be hurt by arbitrary across-the-board cuts,” said Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev. “We already receive low levels of federal funding to support critical programs in Nevada. We don’t have enough funding in Nevada to start with, and the sequester will leave us with even less.”
But Nevada’s lawmakers are anything but agreed on whose recipe for avoiding the cuts is best.
Nevada Democrats want to offset the sequester cuts with marginal tax increases on the wealthy.
“The Republicans know that the way to solve this is by having people who are really rich pay just a tiny speck more,” Reid said.
Nevada Republicans, however, blame Democrats for slow-walking alternate cut proposals they say would have solved the problem.
“Congressman Heck voted twice to replace the broad axe-style cuts with more common sense, targeted reductions. If the Senate did not agree with the targeted cuts, they could have amended the bill or pass their own bill,” Lemon said.
And some are trying to just wash their hands clean of all culpability.
“I opposed President Obama’s cuts from the very beginning,” said Sen. Dean Heller, pointing out that he had not supported the initial fiscal package that included the sequester in 2011.
Lawmakers on both sides claim the continued divisions in Congress are bewildering.
But it appears no one is more bewildered than the state agencies now scrambling to figure out how they will deal with the cuts.
Even with just four days to go, few Nevada departments charged with managing and disbursing federal funds have answers as to how they will implement these changes, or are even clear on who is going to be giving those answers, should the worst happen.
Spokespersons for Nellis Air Force Base, the Clark County Schools and the Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation did not return requests for information Monday about their plans to absorb the sequester. A spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Human Services suggested that most state agencies would defer to a spokeswoman for the Department of Administration — who did not return a call for comment Monday.
The White House did not detail its methodology for determining exactly how many jobs in each area of the federal budget would be lost on a state-by-state basis if cuts were to go into effect.
But affected state and local agencies may have a little more time to figure out their sequestration than the deadline suggests.
Though the official start date is March 1, the cuts would not actually be realized until the end of March, when the federal government’s current budget expires.
That also gives lawmakers a little extra time to come to an agreement about a way to circumvent the worst effects of the sequester before they actually strike.
Wash DC and surrounding counties are now the wealthiest in the country. The federal budget will again be larger than it was last year. The squealing over a tiny budget 'cut' is insufferable.
The government had 2 years to plan for the sequester
Now The sky is falling
The sky is falling
Sequestration hypocrisy
Just so we are clear
Obama will spend more money in 2013 then in 2012 after the sequester
Spending more money after the cut
Obama would have you believe there is not enough waste, fraud and abuse to cover limiting growth 2%
Obama would have you believe that a hiring freeze would not cover limiting growth 2%
Obama would have you believe that restricting government employee travel and conventions would not cover limiting growth 2%
Bring it on, baby. The sequester was Obama's plan and now he doesn't like it. Too bad. He owns it.
Even his prized constituents don't care, because the federal money giveaway to the free-cheesers will continue unabated. As long as they're getting their checks, they won't care about this one bit.
The judge has it about right. As long as the checks cash and the foodstamp card is charged no one will even notice, down the road when the welfare checks stop, hell in the streets of obama nation.
I have been watching our Republican leader on TV the past few days and they have the RIGHT idea! They have a two-fold strategy that is working! Do not answer any direct questions! Just keep on telling the public that we would rather have the sequester then even raise one extra cent of taxes on our Job Creators! And we must keep on telling the public every single chance we get that "this is that guy obama's idea". I have watched them do this on TV and it IS working! Just keep on saying "this is that guy obama's idea" to any question asked and eventually we TeaPublicans WILL get the majority of Americans to believe it!
What a bunch of BS! Cut 2 cents out of every dollar you spend and see just how much your lifestyle changes and that's only out of additional spending you were planning to make. We, my wife & I, recently had to make financial choices. We had to cut back. We did it by prioritizing and by cutting back on non-essentials. I have no doubt that any of you would do or have done the same. So, my heart does not bleed for the whiners who will be "affected," if any. BTW, this fiasco points out the fact that NV, like too many other states, has become way too dependent of federal dollars and should look to reduce its dependency. We can help by getting rid of the big spenders in Washington. When Washington is forced to take less, there will be more to be had right in our own backyard. There is no "free" lunch.
sequestration WAS obama's idea
the democrat communists in the white house finally admitted to it just recently - as reported by the mainstream media
google it, bing it, ask it, aol it - whatever - the communist admission is now in print that it WAS OBAMA's idea from the start - the admission is real
obama, along with his liberal whacko democrats, is such a communist propagandist that he has you uneducated welfare and illegal alien supporters believing the "TeaPublicans" came up with sequestration
the facts are that you communist democrat whackos want to loot everyone's pockets for your welfare, foodstamp, section 8 housing, medicaid, illegal alien education, $2 billion in medicaid alone for illegal alien anchor baby births in the usa that's doled out
your democrat communist manifesto of "to each according to their needs" garbage is now exposed and obama's $16,000,000,000,000.00 in federal DEBT is something he and his communist followers can't hide from anymore.
communist democrat panic has set in
This is more nonsense and out and out lies from President Obama! The sequestration originated from the White House and President Obama. The sequester cuts about 3% ($85 billion) from this years 2 trillion dollar budget. DOD received a $13 billion increase in their budget for this year. The solution to the problem is for the President to call the Speaker and Majority leader, ask for a bill to allow money from different accounts within DOD and other government agency's to be moved around to fill the shortfalls. So far this has not happened, he is to busy campaigning and scaring people. Looks like on 1 March the country will collapse, by the way where is the other trillion plus dollars in this years budget and how is being spent? Elections have consequences, enjoy your food stamps and extended unemployment checks before he takes them away...
Hilarious!
Republicans are way too dumb to see it but if these cuts go through the shellacking they took in November will seem like a picnic in the park compared to the bludgeoning that's coming in 2014.
It's like they're trying to shoot themselves in the foot but have the gun aimed at their empty head, LOL.
Let's see.... We have a 79 BILLION dollar fleet of F-22 Raptor planes/paperweights sitting on a tarmac somewhere. GROUNDED. Never once saw a minute of combat, NOT ONE MINUTE. Oh, and an order for more than 2400 MORE F-35 fighters to go with the 58 we already have.(Also sitting on the tarmac, GROUNDED) Over 150 Million each...And counting.
I know, let's gut the Meals on Wheels, and School lunch programs, because there is no "Free Lunch", unless you're a Military Contractor. The word "Defense" was omitted for obvious reasons....
I see the Republicans are spouting the 2 cents on the dollar party line which is an unfair comparison. Since the sequestration does not involve Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, the actual cuts fall on a smaller portion of the federal budget not on the entire federal budget. I know the Republicans like to use household budget analogies so here is a true example of what will occur with sequestration. Your employer tells you that for the next year you will be paid $120,000. You set a budget and spend $10,000 per month. Then your employer comes to you 5 months into the year and says I have to cut your wages by 8%. Now your actual salary is only $110,400 but you have already spent $50,000 based on the assumption you would receive $120,000. Now you only have $60,400 to get through the remaining 7 months of the year or only $8,629 per month. A decrease of $1,371 per month from the original budget of $10,000 and this represents a 13.8% overall decrease in spendable dollars. This is what will occur with federal agencies and subcontractors in the Las Vegas area and across the country. Also, my example would apply to non-Department of Defense agencies or subcontractors. The DOD cuts are even worse because 50% of the sequester cuts fall on the DOD budget. To keep repeating that the cuts are only 2 cents on the dollar is being at best disingenuous. For example, if your salary is cut by 10%, to you, your salary is cut 10% but then your boss says, well the cut is only 2% of all the employees in the company. For course, that is not fair, because not all the employees in the company had their salaries cut by 10%. Another response will be, but spending is still going up, sequestration is only cutting proposed increases. That may be correct but current fiscal year spending is based on the funding authorized in October 2012 and budgets were set based on that authorized spending and now it is being cut.
Only three days left to go before the Tea/Republican Party gets it's wish and eliminates all life in America. Then sells what is left of it to the Red Chinese.
When Amodei ran for Congress, his first television ad had Red Chinese troops goose stepping along with their rifles at port arms along American city streets.
Gosh.
How did he know?
"American Spring" can't be much farther in the future.
What drives this GOP suicide mission?
The sick teabaggers are counting on getting those 47 virgins that awaits all deluded martyrs.
To us common folks a cut means actually spending less money. To the government, a cut means less of an INCREASE in spending than expected.
Obama doesn't gotta worry about getting re-elected anymore, but the Republicans in the House do.
Rarely is the question asked: Is our Republicans learning?
Nope................ :)
Only the brain dead lap up the tripe the Liar-In-Chief is serving.
His administration continues to add $100 BILLION PER MONTH to the national debt while moaning to his base how "devastating" $85 billion in cuts FOR THE YEAR will be.
Once again dragging out the "first responders, education, teachers, war on the poor" and the rest of his tired deck of cards to play.
Meanwhile food stamps, medicaid, section 8, and SSDI payments have soared to almost $2 TRILLION dollars annually even though the GAO estimates as much as $200 BILLION per year is fraud and ineligible recipients.
Then you have the dept. of defense, spending $400 BILLION on a few F-35's that so far leak fuel, don't deliver oxygen to the pilot, don't have a known foe, and have never flown a combat mission and cost $40k PER HOUR in maintenance.
Federal spending could easily be cut much more than 3% and the only ones effected would be the thieves and cons if the right programs were held accountable.
Time to throw every one of those lying, thieving bums out of office.
---
DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano has ordered the release of thousands of illegal immigrates held because of criminal records mostly in Republican states like Arizona.
ICE officials have said they are releasing a total of nearly 10,000 illegal immigrants of the 34,000 beds that are occupied.
That is 30% well in excess of the 2% limit.
So much for a 2% limit
The Cult of Personality folks continue to blame the GOP.....how sad.
Why is it that the only cuts being advertised are the ones that will inconvenience our society........politics!!!
One day journalists will start doing actual journalism... and ASK questions rather than copying and pasting government press releases.
If a 1.4 percent cut in projected spending is so bad and devestating why don't we start questioning the competence of our leadership...
"If a 1.4 percent cut in projected spending is so bad and devestating why don't we start questioning the competence of our leadership..."
---PRGibbons...circa 2013
We did.
At least the new guy we elected (BO) to replace the BIG spender GWB) with even counts the wars!
This way it becomes OUR war, not just the wars to save daddy's face, to get re-elected, to help out Halliburton, to avenge this or that, just an actual expense which the BIG spender CHOSE not to include in a budget, but rather slipped it into us under the covers, as usual.
Sequestering the future, locking up the present and treating the populace like we are just toys in a box - 3 takes on the heart of our elected officials.
American Spring, anybody?
In excess of what 2% limit, is that a 2% limit on the number of illegal immigrants or the number of beds, what?
If you are referring to the "only a 2% cut to the federal budget" theory, the problem is, the sequestration cuts don't apply to the entire federal budget so the 2% comment is inaccurate. The cuts to Homeland Security are 7 to 8% of their budget and since they are being imposed half way through the fiscal year, the cuts are really 14 to 16%!
Yes, Yes, Yes I know this sequester cuts could lead to widespread flight delays, shuttered airports, off-limit seashores and hundreds of thousands of furloughed employees spread across dozens of states. Yes it is going to have real repercussions on the families and on our states and our economies. But you need to understand just what is going on here! This sequester is just a price that must be paid in order to save America! This is part of the campaign for 2014 and 2016! The campaign HAS already started and we Republicans must not let that guy obama and his democrats win! We must continue to say NO, NO, and Heck No if we TeaPublicans want to take back America in 2016 and 2016! We TeaPublicans must "stand our ground"!
good!
It really is amazing how the Dems blame the Reps when it was the presidents idea and he signed it.
The White House admitted it was Obama's. Now he made his decision and looks to the Reps to stand down from HIS orders.. LOL
Bring it on. 14% annual increase in fed spending with no budget. Cutting a token amount, de minimus.
We've only just begun....to cut and cut and cut. Down to a balanced budget including costs of debt.
Now is beyond the time to bring our TROOPS HOME from Europe, Guam, Japan, Korea.
Cuts only bring job losses and a worse economy.
Ignorant republicans can't figure this out.
These crazy republicans will be voted OUT OF THE
HOUSE AND SENATE next year.
By we, the majority.
These republican idiots still don't realize that
they are the permanant minority party.
And there won't be much of that horrible
republican party left after next years election.
Thank God.
We have only just begun firing stupid, ignorant
and crazy republicans.
Next year can't come fast enough.
Teamster better hope that the Republicans don't get fired since they're the ones making the tuff choices to try to keep the debt and deficit under control.
The answers to Bob's realistic questions are not forthcoming for one reason.
We live in the free world, and people with money and power are obviously free to do as they please.
And of course, by logical extension, most of us are NOT free because we simply have mortal amounts of power and money, not the largesse donated by greed and position, luck, fate and megalomania.
And more to the point perhaps is the comment from ole Bert Russell.. "The megalomaniac differs from the narcissist by the fact that he wishes to be powerful rather than charming, and seeks to be feared rather than loved. To this type belong many lunatics and most of the great men of history"
Bring on more. More cuts. ELIMINATE departments and programs. Infinite savings in Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, DOD, State Department give-aways. Stop feeding, housing, RXing illegals.
Bob, Obama's been looking for an excuse to release more illegals. He's more concerned with feeding illegals than with feeding American seniors. Ditto jobs for illegals, not Americans. You think the de minimus "cut" has ANYTHING to do with Obama's actions or rhetoric? O. has increased spending more than 14% per year without budget AUTHORITY.
Chuck.......
The republicans created the worst economy of our
lifetime.
These republicans are the last people on earth to
fix anything.
That's why we will fire the rest of them next
year.
Heartless republicans have done enough damage to
our economy and middle class.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
Teamster what are you and others that don;t beleive in cutting anything going to do when the REAL cuts need to happen? You do realize that this country is headed in the direction of bancruptcy. And please don't answer with the Republican did this and that, at this point it matters not. What matters is moving "Forward" you do remember that term right. So what are you going to say when the REAL cuts have to happen?