Swalwell Disappointed Over Sequestration

Sweeping federal budget cuts, known as the “sequester,” will soon go into effect.

President Obama made the announcement in a live national broadcast this morning, warning that all Americans will be impacted by the $85 billion that will be cut from the federal budget over the next year.

“Not everyone will feel the pain of these cuts right away. The pain, though, will be real. Beginning this week, many middle-class families will have their lives disrupted in significant ways,” Obama warned this morning.

Soon after Obama’s announcement, local Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) released a statement expressing his disappointment in federal lawmakers failing to reach a compromise:

“I am deeply disappointed that the sequester goes into effect today, setting off across-the-board budget cuts that will hurt our critical services like those for schools, public health and public safety, and research and development. Americans are rightly sick of economic crises like the sequester manufactured by Washington, and they deserve a Congress that comes together to act in ways that will help grow our economy and responsibly reduce the deficit.

“We can cut foolish spending, without foolishly cutting spending.  The sequester is no doubt foolish.  It takes a meat cleaver approach to the budget when we should be using a scalpel to cut waste while ensuring teachers are not laid off, children do not lose access to vaccinations, and seniors continue to receive meals.  Millions of jobs and our entire economy have put at risk by this recklessness.

Swalwell, who co-sponsored the “Stop the Sequester Job Loss Now Act,” said he is eager to help Congress come up with a balanced resolution.

“It is time for Congress to set politics aside and compromise to provide certainty to our economy, protect jobs, and develop a responsible budget,” he added.

The $85 billion that will be cut from the federal budget will impact everything from local schools to police departments.

In California, it's expected there will be $87 million in education cuts as well as reductions in federal funding for environmental, public health, child care and other services. 

Police departments in California are expected to lose $1.6 million in Justice Assistance Grants that support programs such as crime prevention, drug treatment and witness support.

Job assistance programs are also expected to receive $3.3 million less in federal funding, which would affect about 130,000 job seekers.