What Does the Sequester Mean for Mountain View?

Sequestration could begin in four days.

The word sends chills up the spine of many as Congress appears likely to allow $85 billion in government spending cuts to take effect on March 1, according to this explanation by The New York Times. California could lose close to $600 million in calculated budget cuts and the figure would grow, according to a report released by The White House on Sunday.

The cuts include $87.6 million to schools, $14.3 million to clean water and air protections, and $399.4 million to the Department of Defense, among others.

Military families, DOD civilian employees and even the 129th Rescue Wing at Moffett Field, just north of Mountain Vie,w could be affected. Mountain View Patch is currently working on an article about this. (Please check back and if you have unique insight on this topic feel free to email the editor).

Nutritional assistance programs for seniors statewide would be cut by $5.4 million, which could impact the Senior Center's food program.

There would also be cuts to vaccines for children statewide by $1.1 million and could possibly affect the RotaCare service at El Camino Hospital.

Most agree that sequester is inevitable because Republicans and Democrats can't agree on how to pay down the U.S. debt—government cuts versus raising taxes.

However Republicans don't believe it will be as tragic as the Obama administration makes it sound. This despite the Congressional Budget Office finding that the effects could slowdown the nation's economic growth.

Are you worried about the sequester? Or do you think it will not happen at all? Share in comments!

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