How The White House Says Sequestration Could Affect MN
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Time is ticking away before $85 million is stripped from the federal government. The White House laid out a detailed look at how the state of Minnesota will be affected unless a deal is made by Friday.
If budget cuts go into effect, the White House says Minnesota will lose $7 million in education funding, putting about 100 teacher and aide jobs at risk.
Also, 2,000 military employees would be furloughed, losing more than $12 million in pay.
Local law enforcement and public safety agencies -- along with the state public health department -- would lose hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The White House says job assistance programs, senior meals programs and child care access would also be affected.
Nationwide, one of the biggest impacts could be on travel. The Transportation Secretary says 47,000 federal aviation workers would be furloughed. That would mean fewer air traffic controllers and longer, more frequent delays.
President Barack Obama is trying to push Congress into a deal that would lower the deficit. Republicans say they will not deal with the sequester until the president stops asking for higher taxes.
