Sequestration Beginning to Bite

For John, BLUF:  What Casey Stengel said—"Can't anybody here play this game?"  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

The Sequestration is starting to hit and, as usual, it is hitting the little folks hardest.  There are reports of low ranking Federal Employees taking out bank loans to cover the pay gap.  And there is the question of getting a second job.

On a recent shuttle run between the Building and the Capitol the driver told me how he had been offered non-government tourism-bus-driving employment during his furlough days, but that he had been told he was not allowed to engage in additional employment on those days.

In a time of legalization of illegal immigration, why would anyone care of the person was moonlighting?

There are impacts elsewhere.  A friend of mine told me that with Sequestration the Department of State Bureau responsible for granting export licenses has extended the wait period from 30 days to 90.  This is going to have an adverse impact on US exports, which impacts other workers, outside of Government.  That impacts the economy.

The question is, is there some compromise between those who wish to run a deficit, to get people back to work, and those who fear big deficits will send us the way of Greece.

I wonder what our delegation on Capitol Hill thinks?  Our two Senators probably say spend.  What about Rep Tsongas?

Regards  —  Cliff