Michigan would lose $140M in sequester

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - The White House says a host of Michigan programs would be hurt should the sequester go into effect.

The sequester will cut $85 billion from the federal budget. That breaks down to about 9% of non-defense spending and 13% of the Pentagon's budget for the next seven months.

In a Sunday release, the White House said the forced, automatic spending cuts set to happen unless Congress acts by March 1 would affect programs across the nation.

In Michigan, according to the White House, $140 million dedicated to education, defense, law enforcement, environmental, public health and economic programs would disappear in 2013 alone.

MILITARY:

• 10,000 civilian Department of Defense employees would be furloughed, reducing gross pay by $67.7 million.
• $14 million for Army base operations.

EDUCATION:

• $22 million in funding for primary and secondary education.
• $20.3 million for teachers and aides for children with disabilities.
• Head Start and Early Head Start services would be eliminated for 2,300 children.
• 2,490 low-income students would lose college financial aid, and about 1,300 fewer would get work-study jobs to finance their higher education.

ENVIRONMENT:

• $5.9 million in environmental funding.
• $1.5 million for fish and wildlife protection.

JOB ASSISTANCE:

• $1.7 million in funding for job search assistance, referral and placement.

HEALTH:

• $2.9 million for substance abuse treatment.
• $944,000 for public health emergency preparedness.

SENIOR NUTRITION:

• $1.8 million for meals for the elderly.

LAW ENFORCEMENT:

• $482,000 in Justice Assistance Grants.

The White House compiled the numbers from federal agencies and its own budget office.

== See the full list of affected expenditures according the White House (pdf) ==

As to whether states could move money around to cover shortfalls, the White House said that depends on state budget structures and the specific programs. The White House did not have a list of which states or programs might have flexibility.

While some federal assistance programs -- like Medicaid and food stamps, Medicare and social security, and military personnel -- are protected from the sequester, most federal agencies would be forced to make cuts. If the cuts go into effect, there will be layoffs and furloughs in the FBI, boarder patrol, food inspection and other agencies.

== Infographic: Breaking down the sequester ==

Almost everyone agrees the sequester would have an impact on the economy, but there are those who say not making the cuts could have a negative impact as well. Others opposed to the cuts warn of deep cuts and job losses.

But many Republicans, including those who dominate the West Michigan congressional delegation, don't see it that way. They say government has to take a business approach.