Sequestration

Sequestration Hurting Army’s Ability To Combat Sexual Assault

Sat, 18 May 2013 17:39:26 GMT

Source: lezgetreal.com --- Saturday, May 18, 2013
Secretary of the Army John McHugh and Army Chief of Staff General Raymond Odierno have both submitted notice to the United States Senate Armed Services Committee explaining that the Sequestration cuts- the across-the-board cuts mandated by the lack of a deal in Congress- is harming the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Program by “slowing hiring actions, to delaying lab results which hinders our ability to provide resolution for victims.” Recently, the Department of Defense report showed that there were an estimated total of 26,000 instances of unwanted sexual contact, and of those, only 3,374 were reported in 2012. The Army itself has the highest rate of victims reporting sexual assault among the five branches. This part April, the two stressed the importance of working with soldiers throughout their careers. General Odierno informed Senator Kay Hagen “It is just about constantly talking about this problem and constantly ensuring that people understand we are going to take this seriously. And it’s as frustrating to all of us, I know, as it is to you, senator. I wish I had a better answer for you frankly.” The Army had been planning to add some 829 full-time military and civilian sexual assault response coordinators and victim advocates to combat sexual assault in the Army. Unfortunately, the Army faces some $7.6 billion in Sequestration cuts between April and September, and General Odierno said that this, in part ...

Sequestration policy among those impeding growth, economist says

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:17:52 GMT

Source: www.theday.com --- Saturday, May 18, 2013
The U.S. economy appears to be pretty resilient, despite government fiscal policies such as Sequestration that are a huge drag on growth, a senior economist for Moodys Analytics said Friday at the... ...

California Capital Airshow to Continue Despite Sequestration

Sat, 18 May 2013 07:03:28 GMT

Source: fox40.com --- Saturday, May 18, 2013
SACRAMRENTO- The Capital City Air Show at Mather Field is different than other air shows around the country – you can get up close to the technology, see it and feel it. About 100,000 people come every year. But this year, because of some belt-tightening in Washington, you can expect to see 25 percent bigger crowds out trying to enjoy the same thrill ride. Shiny, fast and loud. It’s the definition and de facto motto of the Capital City Air Show. “We had the Thunderbirds and a wide variety of warbirds and aerobatics and military jets flying last year,” said the show’s executive director Darcy Brewer. But, like 50 percent of air shows around the country, plans for this year’s event would’ve been grounded if organizers here had counted on the same line-up as last year. Sequestration or those federal agency cuts to keep Washington’s wallet in line means big acts like the Thunderbirds aren’t flying. Those cuts have nothing to do with the Royal Canadian Air Force and thanks to a planning cycle that starts two years out - 11 of their planes will be featured at Mather in October. “It’s just not spine tingling thrills, it’s almost a ballet, the choreography, the narration, the music is like something no one’s ever seen before,” said Brewer. And that will help her and other organizers further the real mission behind all this magic. “It’s exciting, but deep down people are walking away with a knowledge of what STEM programs in school can do ...

Sequestration Hits Santa Ana HUD Office with Friday Furlough Days Through End of August

Fri, 17 May 2013 19:35:35 GMT

Source: blogs.ocweekly.com --- Friday, May 17, 2013
Due to the Sequestration cuts, the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) office in Santa Ana will close next Friday, May 24, and unless funding relief comes it will be closed select Fridays th... ...

Talk Of Ending Sequestration Reemerges Amid IRS Scandal

Fri, 17 May 2013 19:13:19 GMT

Source: wamu.org --- Friday, May 17, 2013
There were testy exchanges between Steven Miller, the acting head of the IRS, and lawmakers in both parties at today's House hearing. Miller refuses to agree with the inspector general's finding that IRS officials targeted conservative groups. He says the actions were merely obnoxious, and contends the agency is overwhelmed. "As I mentioned, we have a limited number of people — 140 to 200 — that work on the 70,000 applications that come in for tax exempt status," he says, noting the inefficiencies in the process. Democrats agree that a part of the problem is resources. Oregon Democratic Rep. Earl Blumenauer says instead of furloughing IRS employees, it's time to beef up the agency. "I also hope that we look at the task they've been given, the budget they've been given, and think a little bit about maybe a rate of return that would more than pay for itself if we invested in training, in management, and having more than 150 people to deal with the avalanche of these applications," says Blumenauer. Due to Sequestration, the entire IRS is scheduled to shutter next Friday, which is just the first of five scheduled furlough days for its nearly 100,000 employees. ...

Boy Scouts, charities collateral damage in sequestration

Fri, 17 May 2013 18:16:40 GMT

Source: watchdog.org --- Friday, May 17, 2013
By Tom Steward | Watchdog Minnesota ST. CLOUD, Minn. — When the Department of Defense recently grounded the Navy ‘s Blue Angels and Air Force ‘s Thunderbird aerial acrobat squadron because of Sequestration, dozens of air shows across the country were caught in the crossfire. UP, UP AND AWAY: Blue Angels give Boy Scouts and charities the blues by pulling out of air shows that financially support them. While the Pentagon estimated the maneuver could save about $30 million, it’s proving to be costly for many of the estimated 3,000 or more Rotary Clubs , youth organizations and nonprofit community groups that benefit from ticket sales and related activities dependent on air shows. One organization that provides thousands of volunteers and sponsors a handful of the scratched shows has suffered some of the most immediate collateral damage — Boy Scout troops from coast to coast. “It’s disappointing that a national issue like this will have a direct impact on a local economy and local community that’s trying to do a good, positive thing,” said Matt Hill of the Chippewa Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America . Boy Scout regional councils and troops affiliated with air shows stand to lose thousands of dollars in donations — and in some cases much more — as a result of the Sequestration squabble in Washington, D.C., a Watchdog.org survey found. Though the Boy Scouts of America national office does not track or participate in air fests, ...

The Impact of Budget Sequestration on DOD Energy Innovation

Fri, 17 May 2013 17:17:39 GMT

Source: www.alternative-energy-news.info --- Friday, May 17, 2013
Filed under: Energy News ...

Legislation Aims to Save State Mineral Revenues From Sequestration

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:41:20 GMT

Source: www.governing.com --- Friday, May 17, 2013
Wyoming Republicans Sen. Mike Enzi and Rep. Cynthia Lummis plan to introduce bills next week allowing states to collect royalties directly from companies that develop oil, gas and coal on federal lands. ...

John Jumper: Contractors Seeking Commercial, Intl Growth to Counter Sequestration

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:55:33 GMT

Source: blog.executivebiz.com --- Friday, May 17, 2013
John Jumper, Science Applications International Corp. chairman and CEO, told the National Press Club Thursday in Washington that contractors are seeking new ways to help their government customers as missions... Read more » ...

Sequestration Forces USGS to Shutdown Three Iowa Stream Gauges

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:10:20 GMT

Source: www.kcrg.com --- Friday, May 17, 2013
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Turkal: Sinai doing better, sequestration hits bottom line

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:00:15 GMT

Source: www.bizjournals.com --- Friday, May 17, 2013
Nick Turkal took a break from his job as CEO of $4.1 billion Aurora Health Care to discuss with The Business Journal issues facing his organization and the health care industry in general — the largest of which is the Affordable Care Act. I report in Friday’s Business Journal print edition Turkal’s comments related to the health-care reform law and Gov. Scott Walker’s rejection of so-called Medicaid expansion included in the law. Here are Turkal’s comments on three of Aurora’s metro… ...

Collins slams sequestration, Benghazi

Fri, 17 May 2013 01:54:17 GMT

Source: onlineathens.com --- Thursday, May 16, 2013
U.S. Rep. Doug Collins, R-Gainesville, and representing Georgia’s 9th District, will be attending the state Republican Party convention starting today in Athens. He recently sat down with the Athens Banner-Herald editorial board to talk about the Affordable Care Act, the federal budget and the terrorist attacks at the U.S. embassy in Benghazi, Libya. Below is a transcript of the conversation. It has been edited for content and clarity. Sequestration read more ...

Congressman: Sequestration Is A ‘Legitimate’ Way To Cut The Budget

Thu, 16 May 2013 19:45:05 GMT

Source: thinkprogress.org --- Thursday, May 16, 2013
Joining other Republicans who trumpet automatic, across-the-board cuts to preschool, education, unemployment benefits, and health services, House Judiciary Chair Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) said Sequestration is “a legitimate effort” to implement budget cuts in a Wednesday address to the Ripon Society: [There are] a whole array of other issues including the profligate waste in all sectors of the government as the administration attempts to vilify Sequestration, a legitimate effort to cut 2.5 percent of the entire federal budget or about 7-8 percent of domestic and defense discretionary spending. At a time when the Department as purchased a new prison at a cost of $170 million when we have four new prisons all standing empty, and at a time when they are having $12 cups of coffee and $10,000 dollars pizza parties. So there will be questions there about why it is necessary to put deportable aliens, many of them criminal aliens, out on the street to save money where they can commit crimes against citizens of the U.S. Goodlatte has expressed selective outrage over the budget cuts affecting immigration enforcement and airports. However, his home state Virginia will lose millions for primary and secondary education, affecting hundreds of teachers and 14,000 students, nearly $3 million for clean air and water services, child care for 400 children, vaccine services for more than 3,500 children, and much more. The Huffington Post also outlined 10 ...

As sequestration strikes disease fighting efforts, Defense Department’s role in global health is little understood

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:56:14 GMT

Source: sciencespeaksblog.org --- Thursday, May 16, 2013
With a role in global health responses and research so extensive that a chart outlining its efforts looks a little like a maze, the United States Department of Defense has to ground itself in "institutional humility" to integrate the roles of fellow agencies and foreign partners in international disease-fighting efforts, as one speaker put it. ( Read more... ) ...

Quantifying the legacy of foliar winter injury on woody aboveground carbon sequestration of red spruce trees

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:56:24 GMT

Source: www.treesearch.fs.fed.us --- Thursday, May 16, 2013
Red spruce ( Picea rubens Sarg.) decline has been quantitatively attributed to foliar winter injury caused by freezing damage. The results of this injury include foliar mortality, crown deterioration, and negative carbon (C) balances that can lead to tree health declines and eventual mortality. In 2003, a severe region-wide event damaged over 90% of red spruce in the northeastern United States (US). We assessed the influence of the 2003 winter injury event on long-term growth and C Sequestration of red spruce trees by measuring the xylem growth (basal area increment) in forest stands in Vermont (VT), New Hampshire (NH), and Massachusetts (MA) where winter injury was quantified in 2003. Although previous work reported 2 years of significant linear relationships between winter injury and growth declines, here we show that growth declines relative to pre-injury (average for 2001 and 2002) growth persisted for an additional (third) year. Using 3 years of significantly reduced growth, we estimated that the 2003 winter injury event reduced the regional C Sequestration of red spruce trees >17.78 cm diameter at breast height (DBH) by about 673,000 metric tons (t) of C (approximately 2,465,000 t of CO 2 ) - approximately 70% larger than the previous estimate. Because winter injury in 2003 was positively and significantly related to plot elevation, we also examined relative changes in red spruce growth for three elevation groups: low ( 920 ...

Reid To Pentagon: No Special Sequestration Treatment For You

Thu, 16 May 2013 11:26:04 GMT

Source: tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com --- Thursday, May 16, 2013
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has bad news for Pentagon officials, defense contractors, national park vacationers and other powerful constituencies dealing with the consequences of Sequestration: unlike the Federal Aviation Administration, you won't be getting any special treatment. At a reporter roundtable in his Capitol Hill suite Wednesday, Reid claimed responsibility for Democrats' decision to provide the FAA -- and only the FAA -- unique flexibility under Sequestration to move money between accounts, and thus to avoid scheduled tower closures and controller furloughs causing major travel delays that were expected to drag on for months. "I take all the blame," Reid acknowledged. But he now says that powerful stakeholders won't get elite treatment from Congress to alleviate the impact of Sequestration, suggesting the indiscriminate spending cuts will either be addressed in their entirety or not at all. "I think the next thing I see that's going to ask for, 'let's just take care of this,' is going to be the Pentagon," Reid said. "They're asking already for more money for a number of different things. I think the time has come that we -- if something comes up in the military, that we have to understand there are a lot of people out there who don't have lobbyists, who don't have people up here to advocate for them." "We've got the 70,000 kids on head start, meals on wheels, NIH ... we have all kinds of issues that sequ ...

CMS updates SNF Medicare manual to implement sequestration cuts

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:30:00 GMT

Source: www.mcknights.com --- Thursday, May 16, 2013
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has updated the online Medicare Provider Reimbursement Manual, modifying instructions related to the 2% reimbursement reductions resulting from Sequestration. ...

Worsening A Warming-Fueled Wildfire Season, Sequestration Threatens Firefighting Efforts

Thu, 16 May 2013 09:13:50 GMT

Source: thinkprogress.org --- Thursday, May 16, 2013
Due to Sequestration, the federal government will be at least $115 million short of normal wildfire fighting capacity during this year’s wildfire season. This is particularly problematic as large portions of the U.S. face a serious drought and extremely dry conditions. As the Washington Post reported , Agriculture Secretary Vilsack said “I hope we can get through this fire season without any fatalities.” A new report from the House Appropriation committee Democrats found that the Forest service “will have 500 fewer firefighters, 50-70 fewer fire engines, and two fewer aircraft because of Sequestration.” Some of the equipment it does still have is outdated — such as the 50-years-old-on-average tanker planes that have crashed multiple times in the last decade, killing 14 people. A Fox News radio AM talk show expressed incredulity that President Obama and Agriculture Secretary Vilsack “could not find $115 million of fat in the budget so they cut firefighters.” One of the more harmful aspects of Sequestration is that the cuts take place “across-the-board” and do not permit the same flexibility in moving funds around within an agency. Because last year’s wildfire season was so severe, the USDA Forest Service faced a $400 million shortfall for active firefighting and had to borrow money from fire prevention programs to cover the costs. These programs included paying for brush removal from public lands and protecting against invasive pl ...

Sequestration May Make Hurricane Season Stormier Than Usual

Thu, 16 May 2013 08:00:00 GMT

Source: www.npr.org --- Thursday, May 16, 2013
The Atlantic Hurricane season starts in just a few weeks. With Sequestration, the National Weather Service has ordered furloughs and a hiring freeze that have left vacancies throughout the agency, including the National Hurricane Center. Florida's governor and others are wondering if that will affect the state's ability to prepare and respond to a storm. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us ...

Sequestration cuts to the U.S. defense budget have started to affect military co...

Thu, 16 May 2013 01:12:36 GMT

Source: www.facebook.com --- Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Sequestration cuts to the U.S. defense budget have started to affect military contracting and training. Watch Michael O'Hanlon explain the long-term consequences in the video below, and check out his new book here: http://bit.ly/ZVfpPT Sequestration and U.S. Defense Spending: Healing the Wounded Giant www.youtube.com O'Hanlon provides examples of areas where defense cuts can be made. ...