Politics & Government
Federal Spending Cuts Would Greatly Impact Illinois' Middle Class
A series of automatic spending cuts called a sequester could be imposed by the federal government on March 1 unless Congress accepts new revenues stemming from higher taxes on the wealthy.
In a matter of days, $85 billion worth of across-the-board government spending cuts called a sequester could affect all 50 states.
If imposed, the cuts would impact everything from education spending and national defense to public health and the economy, reported the Huffington Post.
President Obama is pushing Congress to accept his deficit reduction plan, which includes new revenues and spending cuts. The plan would achieve $1.8 trillion in budget reductions stemming from about $1.1 trillion in spending cuts and $680 billion in new revenues from limiting deductions and closing tax loopholes for the wealtiest Americans, reported the Huffington Post.
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State impact
The White House has released reports detailing how each state would be impacted by a sequester.
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In Illinois, the following areas could be affected just this year if the sequester goes into effect:
- Teachers and schools
- Work-study jobs
- Head Start
- Protection for clean air and clean water
- Law Enforcement and Public Safety Funds for Crime Prevention and Prosecution
- Job Search Assistance to Help those in Illinois find Employment and Training
- Child care
- Vaccines for children
- Public health
- Stop violence against women programs
- Nutrition assistance for seniors
Tell Us: Do you think there will be a sequester? Which areas of potential impact concern you the most?
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