Tagged: sequestration

Americans are starting to feel the bite of the federal sequestration.  Sequestration is the term referring to the automatic, across-the-board budget cuts in the federal government’s domestic and military budgets.  Sequestration went into effect last month when Congress was unable to agree on an alternative.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney (D, Cold Spring) asked President Obama and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel to reduce the impact of sequestration on civilian employees.

The lawmaker’s request came in a letter to both officials in support of legislation to give more flexibility to the Pentagon on sequestration cuts and to shift more than $10 billion into Pentagon operations and maintenance accounts.

ALBANY – Sequester-related cuts are apparently going to suspend tuition assistance for military personnel so Assemblyman Kiernan Michael Lalor (R- Fishkill) and Senator Gregory Ball (R- Patterson) Monday announced they will propose tuition reductions for those attending SUNY and CUNY schools.

Lalor said the measure, which has wide spread support from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, is the right thing to do.

  The sequester has divided Washington yet again.

In today’s Congressional Corner, Massachusetts Democratic Representative Richard Neal tells WAMC’s Alan Chartock that he believes the sequester was a gimmick from the get-go. 

  Budget plans are being discussed in Washington, but the sequester’s shadow is large.

In today’s Congressional Corner, New York Representative Chris Gibson — a Republican from the 19th district — tells WAMC’s Alan Chartock that the Defense Department should not be underfunded.