How the $85 bil. in federal spending cuts will hit Lane Co.
EUGENE, Ore. -- After Sequestration phases in across the nation, number-crunchers in Eugene are still trying to figure out how the cuts will unfold across Lane County.
The nearly $85 billion in automatic spending cuts have left agencies and schools in the area bracing for budget cuts.
While the president and congressional leaders point fingers, authorities on the local level are left to work out what that total cuts will be in Lane County.
As of now, officials said that health services will see Federal grant cuts to community health centers and co-pay coverage for children’s immunizations.
The women, infant and children nutrition program (called "WIC") may take a 12 percent cut which Lane County Health Department official Jason Davis sees as detrimental to the program.
“That results in over 900 individuals not being able to receive the services they're currently receiving each month,” Davis said.
Lane County Commissioner Sid Leiken said the government is holding back nearly $500,000 on the final timber payments check to Lane County.
“This is public safety money … it’s how we really view this. Because - as you know - 70 percent of our general fund has to do with public safety,” said Leiken.
School districts will see less money from title-1 grants from the federal government. This would cut grant money to primary and secondary schools as well as schools that serve special needs and low-income children.
Kerry Delf with the Eugene 4-J said that the cuts will affect a lot of students in her district.
“Our very early analysis is that we could lose about one and a quarter million dollars of federal funding over the course of a year,” Delf said.
Eugene Airport spokeswoman Cathryn Stephens told KVAL News that the effects of the cuts should be minor, with more furlough days for TSA security people.
She said that those furlough days will be spread out, and service delays should not be a problem.
Davis remains optimistic, saying the good news is that the county saw this coming and they can shift new state grant money to county clinics and the WIC program.
Commissioner Leiken said he wants to see congress and the president sit down and work this out.
“The number one -- your number one priority should be the country and not your caucuses,” said Leiken.
Veteran’s Administration managers in Roseburg say the VA is shielded from the federal sequestration cuts, which includes the care and benefits to vets.
The VA also picked a site to build a new outpatient clinic in northeast Eugene.
With an anticipated opening in 2015, the potential location off of Chad Drive will replace two smaller clinics on River Road and River Avenue in Eugene.
The liberal media has done it's job by convincing the masses that the sequester was something the Republicans came up with when in fact it was Obama's idea and he signed it into law. People are being so dumbed down by the media's constant blitz to protect this president, their idol. I don't believe for a minute that the Republicans bear no responsibility, but the sequester is the work of a Democratic Progressive President, not the Republicans. Now they are going after Woodward and attacking him for revealing the truth. Truth and honor in the media are in serious trouble folks.
@souptonuts. you've been guzzling the wingnut Kool-aid.Â
Have moved are working class offshore for the most part. It is if the slaveocracy won the Civil War. The big companies are the government. Therefore, they pay few taxes. Â Not enough Americans working for tax collection for war funding and infrastructure. Â It does not matter what party runs DC. Â Corruption is at a high level. Â Halaburton's loophole to bypass the Clean Water Drinking Act and go full throttle with fracking is symbolic of pigs in the trough. American ingenuity is being held back. It is time for the age of invention again. Cut the nerds loose.
It's the GOP's way to punish Americans for voting for Obama.
@godless anarchist Any American that voted for Obama has already been punished and it wasn't because of anyone else, it is because of lack of ability to lead and a blind closed mind agenda.
@godless anarchist I guess you think the deficit and national debt are just ruses, then?
If you look close at OBAMA he's not looking at bonner he is looking at pelosi, but just the same all you liberals get what ya all voted for . Now maybe they will have to cut some of the illegals out of all the free stuff they get that us tax payers can't touch for our families and children, and finally get rid of some of those teachers that are riden the system and aren't worth a #hit
Just look at Obama's face it says it all it is all your fault GOP. Which it isn't, it is all those greedy bastards fault from the top to the bottom!
I want to know why none of the media go after this guy? Â The reporter that outed this jerk would be a hero to the people, it just boggles my mind that all the so called journalists are so smitten with the most corrupt President in american history.
@SpringfielderDuring the press conference there was one female reporter that did. It was pretty entertaining to watch. Jump to 14 min 10 sec of the video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPMM5_h7NIg) and you will hear a reporter call him (Obama) out as claiming this is purely a republican problem and not one he bears any personal responsibility for. His answer sounds quite juvenile (at best) and simply shows his inability to adapt to counter argument and compromise. It's his way or the highway.
You can't claim to be a leader and then pass the buck to someone else. All three branches and both parties are to blame for the mess we are in, but in the end it falls upon the POTUS to guide the way and shoulder the responsibility/blame. He has failed. Listening to his speech today Mr. Obama sounds more like a Senator trying to defend his party (Democratic) then a leader to all parties and individuals. As a leader he can't call out one party in a branch of Congress without holding the other side just as accountable. Perhaps he should stop acting like the freshman congressman that was picked on and now that he's POTUS seeks revenge on those that people/parties involved.
If Obama and family cancelled a couple vacations, the whole thing would be a wash. Â Sequestration was Obama's idea and he signed the bill. Â It's a cut in the increase of spending, not a real cut at all. Â What a crock.
"This is public safety money". It is welfare. And it is time to cut it all back. Time to pay your own way.
OMG The sky is falling and it is dark outside.. You Lib Ta*ds need to stop putting fear into the public.Â