OLYMPIA — Washington state is set to lose millions of dollars in federal aid unless Congress acts by March 1 to avoid a series of automatic spending cuts.
According to a document released by the White House Sunday, cuts to state schools, work-study jobs, law enforcement and other program would be just part of the more than $85 billion in national cuts, called the sequester.
The White House said Republican Congressman refusing to close tax loopholes will bring on the budget cuts. The automatic cuts stem from the federal government’s failure to lower the federal budget deficit back in 2011.
Examples of cuts in Washington state if sequestration takes effect, according to the White House:
- Teachers and Schools: Washington will lose approximately $11,606,000 in funding for primary
and secondary education, putting around 160 teacher and aide jobs at risk. In addition about 11,000
fewer students would be served and approximately 50 fewer schools would receive funding. - Work-Study Jobs: Around 440 fewer low income students in Washington would receive aid to
help them finance the costs of college and around 180 fewer students will get work-study jobs that
help them pay for college. - Head Start: Head Start and Early Head Start services would be eliminated for approximately
1,000 children in Washington, reducing access to critical early education. - Protections for Clean Air and Clean Water: Washington would lose about $3,301,000 in
environmental funding to ensure clean water and air quality, as well as prevent pollution from
pesticides and hazardous waste. In addition, Washington could lose another $924,000 in grants for
fish and wildlife protection. - Job Search Assistance to Help those in Washington find Employment and Training:
Washington will lose about $661,000 in funding for job search assistance, referral, and placement,
meaning around 24,510 fewer people will get the help and skills they need to find employment. - Public Health: Washington will lose approximately $642,000 in funds to help upgrade its ability
to respond to public health threats including infectious diseases, natural disasters, and biological,
chemical, nuclear, and radiological events. In addition, Washington will lose about $1,740,000 in
grants to help prevent and treat substance abuse, resulting in around 3800 fewer admissions to
substance abuse programs. And the Washington State Department of Health will lose about
$174,000 resulting in around 4,300 fewer HIV tests.
4 Comments to “State set to lose millions if sequestration takes effect”
February 25, 2013 at 1:37 PM
Don't #BigBanks/#WallStreet still owe tax payer BILLIONS to The People? Call their debts due or shut 'em down. We will survive. Thriving middle-class backbone of US; we have no money left. Main St wants to stop paying for Congress' lavish lifestyles, fancy dinners, heavy drinking- isn't that where tax dollars are going? Hell, you can't even get a single one of the morons to respond to a single email– paid staff does that, right? Who pays for their staff? We want our money back, Washington!
February 25, 2013 at 11:51 PM
Let it come. survival of the fittest..
February 26, 2013 at 12:15 AM
Back in 2009 Congress spent 900 BILLION DOLLARS on the so-called Stimulus that did nothing to help the economy. Where did all that money go? So now the White House is saying that a spending cut of 85 Billion dollars will amount to a fiscal Armageddon. And remember the Big Bank Bailout of 2008? How much of that has yet to be repaid??
February 26, 2013 at 4:39 AM
Interesting how they forgot us did civvies who amount to close to 30,000 werkers who will lose 20% of our income. That’s money spent in your businesses by the way. The economic rumblings will be felt imbalance corners of the state and economy. It’s not survival of the fittest it’s goin to be a full on re-newal of the Great Depression. Thanks to King Obama. In reality he is not working with the GOP at all rather he is forcing his socialist ideals on us. They didn’t work in the 19teens and they won’t work now.