Sequestration starts tomorrow

[dixeedeluxe]

Have any of you Feds gotten any updates from your management?

Not a word here at SSA.

[Deleted]

Ugh,
Dixee. I can't believe they are letting it get to this point.

I talked about the constitution with my students on Tuesday. One of the pushes to make a new federal document was because state legislatures were such a mess. I'm pretty sure the founding generation would be appalled by this.

[mala]

This makes me ragey.

[dixeedeluxe]

We also have 80+ independent contractors that work in our office. Granted, they are pre-funded, but no one has told us what's going to happen to them. I'm also 100% sure no one told THEM what's going to happen to them. And, none of them seem worried.

I DON'T GET IT!

Peopel really don't seem to think this is a big deal! That just isn't right?!

[Deleted]

Our bosses have talked with us. The contractors are suppously gone if it goes through here. Also, our office put in a waiver to avoid the furlough starting in April but they won't know for awhile if it gets approved. If it doesn't get approved everybody will go down to 32 hours a week.

[dixeedeluxe]

Feb 28, 2013 8:46:12 GMT -5 @lindy said:

Our bosses have talked with us. The contractors are suppously gone if it goes through here. Also, our office put in a waiver to avoid the furlough starting in April but they won't know for awhile if it gets approved. If it doesn't get approved everybody will go down to 32 hours a week.

Gone as in don't show up for work tomorrow?

(Also, I forget what you do...remind me

[Deleted]

Feb 28, 2013 8:48:58 GMT -5 dixeedeluxe said:

Feb 28, 2013 8:46:12 GMT -5 @lindy said:

Our bosses have talked with us. The contractors are suppously gone if it goes through here. Also, our office put in a waiver to avoid the furlough starting in April but they won't know for awhile if it gets approved. If it doesn't get approved everybody will go down to 32 hours a week.

Gone as in don't show up for work tomorrow?

(Also, I forget what you do...remind me

That is the rumor, that they are gone tomorrow/next week.  I share an office area with 3 contractors, but don't work directly with them so I don't want to ask!

I for as a civilian for the Army managing construction.

[dixeedeluxe]

Oh man, I hope they tell those contractors today! So unfair.

[creamsiclechica]

My girlfriend works as a program director at one of the Child Development Centers on our base, so she falls under the Department of Defense. They've told her the same as lindy, furlough starts in April, they're down to 32 hours a week.

[AndyCohen]

It freaks me out that this isn't on the front page of all of the news sites. I am so sick of our government being run by two parties playing chicken with each other. And the fact that this is all over people not wanting taxes raised makes me sick.

[kistjenn]

I work for FSA.  We were told that if it happens, which is almost certain, that we would be furloughed 5 days for this FY.  We also would have a 30 day notice before we started our furlough.
I don't think the sequestration will have that immediate effect of "don't come to work the next day", I think it allows for some sort of "notice".  With continuing resolutions that is an immediate shut down if things don't pass buy 11:59pm d-day.

[dixeedeluxe]

I'm less "worried" about fed employees than I am about contractors. That seems to be what the news is telling us. That the biggest hit will be to contractors. But, obviously, that impacts the work of employees.

I just realized our on-site childcare center might be affected, as they are contracted.

Also, the people who clean our buildings.

And the security staff.

All contractors.

[Deleted]

What is sequestration?

[creamsiclechica]

I can say we're taking a huge hit here because of how deep the defense cuts are. Soldiers will have to pull all gate guard (you cannot get on base without proper identification), our Commissary will be closed on Wednesday and Sundays, furloughed teachers at post schools and daycare providers, and no contractors for maintenance of the post. But some of the worst things include how they can't go out to the field to train, they won't have enough ammunition, gas for the vehicles to transport them to the ranges (this base is HUGE, and the back ranges you have to get to by vehicle and personal vehicles are prohibited for safety reasons). Yesterday, DH was in a battalion headquarters and all the lights were off and heat too, because they told them they wouldn't be able to pay the utilities if they didn't do blackout times. And in the hospital, half of the medical emergency staff is being furloughed, there's signs everywhere. It's madness, and I cannot believe that people are not more aware of what's going on. Both in the military and civilian sector. This is ridiculous our government has let things get to this to play politics.

[rjamz]

Feb 28, 2013 10:57:00 GMT -5 creamsiclechica said:

I can say we're taking a huge hit here because of how deep the defense cuts are. Soldiers will have to pull all gate guard (you cannot get on base without proper identification), our Commissary will be closed on Wednesday and Sundays, furloughed teachers at post schools and daycare providers, and no contractors for maintenance of the post. But some of the worst things include how they can't go out to the field to train, they won't have enough ammunition, gas for the vehicles to transport them to the ranges (this base is HUGE, and the back ranges you have to get to by vehicle and personal vehicles are prohibited for safety reasons). Yesterday, DH was in a battalion headquarters and all the lights were off and heat too, because they told them they wouldn't be able to pay the utilities if they didn't do blackout times. And in the hospital, half of the medical emergency staff is being furloughed, there's signs everywhere. It's madness, and I cannot believe that people are not more aware of what's going on. Both in the military and civilian sector. This is ridiculous our government has let things get to this to play politics.

Holy crap that's HORRIBLE. I actually like my congressman (now that we've been redistricted) but I vowed at the debt crisis if they went over I would not vote for anyone currently in Congress. This has cemented that for me.

Sent from my SPH-D710 using proboards

[mumegs]

I am embarrassed to admit I've never heard of sequestration...

[creamsiclechica]

Feb 28, 2013 14:13:02 GMT -5 rjamz said:

Feb 28, 2013 10:57:00 GMT -5 creamsiclechica said:

I can say we're taking a huge hit here because of how deep the defense cuts are. Soldiers will have to pull all gate guard (you cannot get on base without proper identification), our Commissary will be closed on Wednesday and Sundays, furloughed teachers at post schools and daycare providers, and no contractors for maintenance of the post. But some of the worst things include how they can't go out to the field to train, they won't have enough ammunition, gas for the vehicles to transport them to the ranges (this base is HUGE, and the back ranges you have to get to by vehicle and personal vehicles are prohibited for safety reasons). Yesterday, DH was in a battalion headquarters and all the lights were off and heat too, because they told them they wouldn't be able to pay the utilities if they didn't do blackout times. And in the hospital, half of the medical emergency staff is being furloughed, there's signs everywhere. It's madness, and I cannot believe that people are not more aware of what's going on. Both in the military and civilian sector. This is ridiculous our government has let things get to this to play politics.

Holy crap that's HORRIBLE. I actually like my congressman (now that we've been redistricted) but I vowed at the debt crisis if they went over I would not vote for anyone currently in Congress. This has cemented that for me.

Sent from my SPH-D710 using proboards

This is exactly how I feel.  It's not even partisan anymore for me.  These incumbents are over privileged on both sides and completely out of touch with Americans and the consequences of their actions.  It's more about protecting their "legacy" as a party than it is about serving the American public.  I won't vote for a single current Congressman next election.

[kistjenn]

I found a very basic statement about what sequestration is on nationaljournal.com. 

What is sequestration?

Sequestration is $1.2 trillion in automatic spending cuts due to go into effect over the next 10 years, with roughly $85 billion slated for this year. Make no mistake, a lot of people in both parties want to cut spending. The reason so many people hate sequestration, though, is that agencies and departments don’t have any input on how it goes into effect—the spending cuts are implemented across the board.

The idea was simple: Schedule automatic cuts for the future that were so harmful to everybody that Congress would be compelled to implement better, smarter cuts before they hit. Sequestration was initially scheduled for the start of the year. Lawmakers delayed it then, but it now seems unlikely that anything will be done before it goes into effect on March 1 (although it could be addressed retroactively).


So basically it is very unlikely at this point that Congress will come to an agreement about where to make these cuts before midnight tomorrow. 
I find it so frustrating that it is almost commical that Congress took a "recess" from Feb 14-Feb 24 2013 knowing dam well this shit need to get figured out by COB March 1.......dumbasses! 

[shevacc]

Feb 28, 2013 15:26:05 GMT -5 kistjenn said:

So basically it is very unlikely at this point that Congress will come to an agreement about where to make these cuts before midnight tomorrow. 
I find it so frustrating that it is almost commical that Congress took a "recess" from Feb 14-Feb 24 2013 knowing dam well this shit need to get figured out by COB March 1.......dumbasses! 

I get so mad about people in power screwing up when they're more-or-less immune from their own screw ups (see rant about Marissa Mayer yesterday). The thing that gets to me the most is that Congress won't be taking a pay cut, or working 32 hour weeks like the rest of the government. AND they get paid whether they do their jobs or not.

What I really hope happens is that sequestration causes pain/inconvenience/annoyance/discomfort to all of the congressmen, both individually and through pissed off constituents. Maybe mass delays in air travel (since all the congressmen fly all the time)? Not that I wish for that, just that I wish somehow these Old Boys would feel the pain their inability to do their jobs causes all the rest of us.

DH is a contractor for the Defense Department. He doesn't know if he'll have a job in April because he works for a small company and they'll likely be cutting at least 2 employees. We think he would be #3 that they let go.

[kistjenn]

shevacc YES!  I know exactly what you mean in reference to letting them feel the same pain.  I know this isn't that big of a deal, but we have not had a COLA in 3 years.  But all the congressmen have been exempt from that.  Like you said, they won't be furloughed, they won't have salary cuts.  Why is it that Congress is above the American public, how is that ok and why does the American public let it continue?

[kistjenn]

Feb 28, 2013 15:48:21 GMT -5 @pcloadletter said:

I"m seriously thinking we need to look into starting over with all of them. I'm not wanting to wait until the next election. Just clean slate.

God, I wish!

[monkeybabe]

This shit makes me so ragey. I still think we should cut their life long salaries. That would save the country some dough. Assholes.

[mumegs]

Wow, I do not understand congress. There are people's jobs at stake and all you have to do is agree on something?? Neither side ever wants to compromise anything.