Sequester 2013

[watcher1]

Or to take a page from some of the more vocal "conservatives" one finds lamenting the budget crisis (and no, I'm referring to people who are not in this board) " I ain't gonna support no freeloaders what don't pay nuthing more 'n what I do."

Oh, you must mean those Wall Street fat cats and CEOs of corporations that are getting obscene tax breaks while 1 in 5 American children go to school hungry every day. 

[Athos131]

Or rather than blaming the side you don't support you could call whoever you do support to tell them to quit the finger pointing and get a deal done.

[Katiebee]

Or rather than blaming the side you don't support you could call whoever you do support to tell them to quit the finger pointing and get a deal done.

already told my representative and senator to stop obstructionism, and start governing.

[snowm]

So does everyone really think the bulk of federal entities don't have 5-10% of frivolous spending that could be cut? New tsa uniforms, post office clothing line, etc?

Are there any companies when faced with a financial crisis out there that couldn't cut 5-10% in costs without going under?

Closing white house tours...really?

[coacheric]

TSA....heard that the next years contract is 50 million, for 1 year. REALLY!

[Katiebee]

Let

So does everyone really think the bulk of federal entities don't have 5-10% of frivolous spending that could be cut? New tsa uniforms, post office clothing line, etc?

Are there any companies when faced with a financial crisis out there that couldn't cut 5-10% in costs without going under?

Closing white house tours...really?

let's start by cutting the pork bills for the states.

[snowm]

TSA....heard that the next years contract is 50 million, for 1 year. REALLY!

a contract that includes providing socks for their uniform. socks..SOCKS WTF?

I agree with you Katie although the argument can be made that politicians trying to get pork for their state is a reaction to, "well we are taxed for it so we are just getting our own money back." Not that I think any politician has a benevolent bone in their body...

[MissBarbara]

So does everyone really think the bulk of federal entities don't have 5-10% of frivolous spending that could be cut? New tsa uniforms, post office clothing line, etc?

Are there any companies when faced with a financial crisis out there that couldn't cut 5-10% in costs without going under?

Closing white house tours...really?

This is a good point.

However, when corporations are faced with a financial crisis, they invariably do one thing: fire employees.

[Katiebee]

So does everyone really think the bulk of federal entities don't have 5-10% of frivolous spending that could be cut? New tsa uniforms, post office clothing line, etc?

Are there any companies when faced with a financial crisis out there that couldn't cut 5-10% in costs without going under?

Closing white house tours...really?

This is a good point.

However, when corporations are faced with a financial crisis, they invariably do one thing: fire employees.

And usually it's the employees who do the work, not highly paid management. A better model would be to reduce the pay for legislators and senior officials.

[joan1984]

 The Sequester 2013 specifically exempts all White House personnel and operations, including all the people involved with the White House Tours, a seven person office, with volunteers who lead the actual self directed tours.

  The Administration has gone far out of it's way to punish families of tourists, many of whom planned their travel by reserving a White House Tour, arranged through their Congressional Representatives offices over one month in advance.

  Schoolchildren sold candy and collected from neighbors and parents to facilitate their Spring visits to their Nation's Capitol, and this is how the President chooses to inflict pain and spite citizens, and Congress.

[Katiebee]

It's called sharing the pain.

[joan1984]

  The Congress can defund the White House Tours office entirely. Just close it.

[snowm]

So does everyone really think the bulk of federal entities don't have 5-10% of frivolous spending that could be cut? New tsa uniforms, post office clothing line, etc?

Are there any companies when faced with a financial crisis out there that couldn't cut 5-10% in costs without going under?

Closing white house tours...really?

This is a good point.

However, when corporations are faced with a financial crisis, they invariably do one thing: fire employees.

because they can survive without the employees. Costs beyond just wages to keep people on the books is mind boggling. It is no wonder so many are shifting to contractors. When I shifted to an 'evil middle manager' that doesn't work I asked a former coworker if she really wanted to keep working there. She said no and would not be angry with me if I got her fired. Problem was, with all the red tape and HR hoops to jump through it couldn't get done in the time I was there.

[Partner]

And usually it's the employees who do the work, not highly paid management. A better model would be to reduce the pay for legislators and senior officials.

I would love to see that.  The only difficulty is that any changes in Congressional pay cannot take place until the next Congress takes over in 2015.

But beyond that, there is a lot of streamlining that can be done in the gov't.  Some of it involves cutting staff numbers down (at all levels), which is notoriously hard to do in the government, unfortunately.

[Athos131]

 The Sequester 2013 specifically exempts all White House personnel and operations, including all the people involved with the White House Tours, a seven person office, with volunteers who lead the actual self directed tours.

  The Administration has gone far out of it's way to punish families of tourists, many of whom planned their travel by reserving a White House Tour, arranged through their Congressional Representatives offices over one month in advance.

  Schoolchildren sold candy and collected from neighbors and parents to facilitate their Spring visits to their Nation's Capitol, and this is how the President chooses to inflict pain and spite citizens, and Congress.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/tours-and-events

(Please note that White House tours may be subject to last minute cancellation.)

It's no difference than if the country was at a higher threat level.

Many national parks are opening later.  Apparently you have no concern for those tourists.

[watcher1]

This is a good point.

However, when corporations are faced with a financial crisis, they invariably do one thing: fire employees.

And use the excuse they are doing it for the shareholders. Except when it comes time to vote themselves a hefty pay raise.

[snowm]

 The Sequester 2013 specifically exempts all White House personnel and operations, including all the people involved with the White House Tours, a seven person office, with volunteers who lead the actual self directed tours.

  The Administration has gone far out of it's way to punish families of tourists, many of whom planned their travel by reserving a White House Tour, arranged through their Congressional Representatives offices over one month in advance.

  Schoolchildren sold candy and collected from neighbors and parents to facilitate their Spring visits to their Nation's Capitol, and this is how the President chooses to inflict pain and spite citizens, and Congress.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/tours-and-events

(Please note that White House tours may be subject to last minute cancellation.)

It's no difference than if the country was at a higher threat level.

Many national parks are opening later.  Apparently you have no concern for those tourists.

As childish as this lover's quarrel is there is a lot of difference between closures due to higher national threat levels and closure due to playing a political game. You will never get me to believe the wh tours need to shut down but the TSA agents have just got to get new uniforms.

[Athos131]

  The Sequester 2013 specifically exempts all White House personnel and operations, including all the people involved with the White House Tours, a seven person office, with volunteers who lead the actual self directed tours.

  The Administration has gone far out of it's way to punish families of tourists, many of whom planned their travel by reserving a White House Tour, arranged through their Congressional Representatives offices over one month in advance.

  Schoolchildren sold candy and collected from neighbors and parents to facilitate their Spring visits to their Nation's Capitol, and this is how the President chooses to inflict pain and spite citizens, and Congress.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/tours-and-events

(Please note that White House tours may be subject to last minute cancellation.)

It's no difference than if the country was at a higher threat level.

Many national parks are opening later.  Apparently you have no concern for those tourists.

As childish as this lover's quarrel is there is a lot of difference between closures due to higher national threat levels and closure due to playing a political game. You will never get me to believe the wh tours need to shut down but the TSA agents have just got to get new uniforms.

Perhaps, but there is little difference between a vacation or educational trip to the White House being changed, and a vacation or educational trip to Yellowstone.



New details emerge of potential sequester cuts to national parks

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2013/02/21/new-details-emerge-of-cuts-to-national-parks-during-sequester/

The automatic budget cuts set to take effect on March 1 will delay the opening of the East and West Rim drives at the Grand Canyon and reduce hours of operation at the main visitor center. At Gettysburg, 20 percent of student education programs would be eliminated this spring.

The Blue Ridge Parkway would lose 21 seasonal interpretive ranger programs, resulting in the closure of half of the park’s visitor stations and leaving 80 miles between each one.

Mount Rainer would permanently close a key visitor center, and Glacier would delay the opening of a well-visited mountain pass.

Five campgrounds and picnics area would close at the Great Smoky Mountains, affecting 54,000 visitors, and the Grand Tetons would close a visitor center, information station and preserve.

These are some new details that have emerged this week of how the National Parks Service would implement a 5.1 percent across-the-board reduction if Congress does not avert $85 billion in spending cuts across the federal government. A Park Service memo obtained by park advocates and provided to The Washington Post outlines some of the cuts, which would affect direct services to visitors from grass cutting to access to rangers and mountain passes.

The Post reported last Sunday that park advocates are pressuring Congress to avert a $110 million cut to the system, which would affect every park, from the National Mall to Yellowstone.

Apparently it's alright to be outraged you can't visit inside the White House, but there is no outrage about difficulties visiting Gettysburg.

[Janus]

And usually it's the employees who do the work, not highly paid management. A better model would be to reduce the pay for legislators and senior officials.

I would love to see that.  The only difficulty is that any changes in Congressional pay cannot take place until the next Congress takes over in 2015.

But beyond that, there is a lot of streamlining that can be done in the gov't.  Some of it involves cutting staff numbers down (at all levels), which is notoriously hard to do in the government, unfortunately.

Actually it is quite easy Partner. It's a little time consuming but it is easy. You don't fill positions when they become vacant. I see it every day. Positions get closed as they become vacant. They shuffle duties around. Put a little bit more on the rest. But don't fill the position with a new hire. It's working too. Seems there is a lot of folks that work in the Government that have time on their hands. Now don't get me wrong, there are also quite a few that have such heavy loads that they get done in a day what they can and know that the work isn't going anywhere. So they will tackle that next stack the next day...On and On and On.......I see that every day too.....

Janus

[Katiebee]

So does everyone really think the bulk of federal entities don't have 5-10% of frivolous spending that could be cut? New tsa uniforms, post office clothing line, etc?

Are there any companies when faced with a financial crisis out there that couldn't cut 5-10% in costs without going under?

Closing white house tours...really?

This is a good point.

However, when corporations are faced with a financial crisis, they invariably do one thing: fire employees.

because they can survive without the employees. Costs beyond just wages to keep people on the books is mind boggling. It is no wonder so many are shifting to contractors. When I shifted to an 'evil middle manager' that doesn't work I asked a former coworker if she really wanted to keep working there. She said no and would not be angry with me if I got her fired. Problem was, with all the red tape and HR hoops to jump through it couldn't get done in the time I was there.

i see that you, like so many managers, conflate cheap with cost-effective. Contractors are not cheap over the long run, and they are certainly not cost-effective over the long run.

Custer leaving his cannon and Gatling guns behind when he rode down into the valley of the Little Big Horn saved wear and tear on this guns, but in the long run it was not cost-effective.