Dems say sequester will hurt blacks, women more than others

(Rep. Barbara Lee)

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus said Monday night that the $85 billion in cuts to federal spending known as the sequester will disproportionately affect blacks and other minorities, in part because they are more likely to work for the government.

"Sequestration will impact everyone, but it will have a particularly harmful effect on communities of color who were hit first and worst by the great recession, and have yet to significantly feel the effects of the recovery," Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said Monday.

"Federal budget cuts under sequestration would quickly mean cuts to federal, state and local public sector jobs, which disproportionately employ women and African Americans."

Lee said in 2011, employed blacks were 20 percent of the federal, state and local public sector workforce, and women were 50 percent more likely to work in the public sector.

Lee was joined by Del. Donna Christensen (D-V.I.), who agreed that cuts to public sector jobs would hurt blacks disproportionately.

 (Del. Donna Christensen)

"African Americans are more likely to work in the public sector, where the jobs are going to be cut," she said. "We already have the highest unemployment, and will be severely hurt by the reduction in unemployment benefits."

Lee cited several other reasons why the sequester will hurt, from a study conducted by the Center for American Progress. That study said minorities would be hurt by cuts to long-term unemployment benefits, workforce development programs, early childhood grants, youth job programs, healthcare research and home heating assistance under the LIHEAP program. The Hill

FACTS & FIGURES

President Obama on Friday signed an order authorizing the government to begin cutting $85 billion from federal accounts, officially enacting across-the-board spending reductions. foxnews.com

While Obama has put the blame for the cuts on Republicans' intransigence and their determination to protect tax breaks for the wealthy, Republicans insist he is responsible for the fiscal predicament. They also accuse him of exaggerating the expected impact. Reuters

Republicans said they wanted deficit cuts, too, but not tax increases. "The president got his tax hikes on Jan. 1," House Speaker John Boehner told reporters, a reference to a $600 billion increase on higher wage earners that cleared Congress on the first day of the year. Now, he said after the meeting, it is time take on "the spending problem here in Washington." CBS News

The U.S. government is the nation's largest employer, with a workforce of roughly 2.7 million civilians spread across the country. If the cuts stay in place, more than 800,000 of those workers could see reduced workdays and smaller paychecks between now and September. Al-Jazeera

A new Gallup poll found that Americans are more likely to describe the sequester negatively with 44 percent using negative words and phrases such as "bad", "disaster," and "God help us." NY Daily News

SCRIPTURES

JUDE 1: 8Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. 9Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. 10But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. 11Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 12These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 13Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

ISAIAH 31: 1Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!

ISAIAH 30: 1Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:2That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!3Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.