Continuing Resolution, Continuing Struggle
Thursday, March 28, 2013(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
Calling the continuing resolution on the budget
passed by
Congress “a mixed blessing,” AFGE reports that “While it prevents a
government
shutdown, it leaves most agencies without the funding they need to hire, train
and retain new workers; to invest in new research or programs that would
benefit Americans.” It also continues the pay freeze while federal workers
are
faced with reduced income due to furloughs. “Further, the continuing
resolution
does nothing to end the massive, across-the-board budget cuts known as
sequestration,” said AFGE President J. David Cox. “Agencies are still on
the
hook for more than $1 trillion in reckless and draconian spending cuts over 10
years unless Congress repeals sequestration.” AFSCME Council 26 Executive
Director Carl Goldman reports that AFSCME plans to mount a grassroots campaign
to show the public how sequestration will impact millions of Americans. “An
educated public will help as we continue to press Congress for the permanent
repeal of sequestration,” says Goldman. “AFSCME will also continue to press
for
increased taxes on Wall Street and corporations instead of cutbacks in needed
federal programs and furloughs for federal employees.” Click
here to hear Rep. John Sarbanes
warn of
sequestration's long-term consequences on AFGE’s "Inside Government"
radio show. Photo: at the 3/20
“Repeal Sequestration”
demo at the DOL; photo by Chris Garlock