Thursday, February 21, 2013

POLITICS - Panetta Warning on Sequestration

"Defense Secretary Panetta Warns Automatic Spending Cuts Could Mean Furlough" PBS Newshour 2/20/2013

Excerpt

JUDY WOODRUFF (Newshour):  It was the starkest statement yet on the possible effect of automatic federal budget cuts, due to begin in nine days, on Mar. 1st.  Defense Sec. Leon Panetta notified his entire civilian work force that employees could be sent home without pay.

The warning was aimed at Defense Department workers at the Pentagon and around the world.  Secretary Panetta sent them a written message, as he left for a NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels.  In it, he said there are limited options for coping with the looming across-the-board cuts.  And he said: "Should sequestration occur and continue for a substantial period, DOD will be forced to place the vast majority of its civilian work force on administrative furlough."

UNDERSECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR PERSONNEL AND READINESS JESSICA WRIGHT:  On our civilians, it will be catastrophic.

JUDY WOODRUFF:  Within hours, top Pentagon officials were out, saying employees could lose one day of work per week for 22 weeks.


Ah, yes.  The real concern about jobs.... NOT!

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