As sequestration nears, federal workers brace for furloughs, vent anger at politicians

McClatchy Newspapers ^ | February 28, 2013 | By Lindsay Wise

[Brad from Tennessee]

WASHINGTON — As a single dad with seven kids living at home, Bill Blevins is used to pinching every penny.

The 48-year-old building engineer at the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing hasn’t had a cost-of-living pay raise in more than two years, even as his rent and insurance premiums went up. Now he and other federal workers in Washington and across the country are bracing for possible unpaid furloughs as part of an $85 billion reduction in federal spending. Known as sequestration, the automatic, across-the-board budget cuts are scheduled to kick in unless Congress and the White House can reach a compromise by Friday.

snip______________________________________

“I am a registered Republican. However, I blame the Republican Party for this,” said Gregory Russell, a 48-year-old federal firefighter at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Russell calculates he’d lose about $1,200 a month – about 20 percent of his pay – if he gets furloughed. . .

[Lancey Howard]

“I am a registered Republican. However, I blame the Republican Party for this,” said (who cares?)

I'm calling liar on this. Okay, stupid is a genuine possibility, too.

[Lancey Howard]

Nice work!
BUMP for great freeping, and for exposing not only a liar but a complicit, lying reporter as well.
Lindsay Wise, huh? What a scumbag.

[tiki]

Yep, no one ever says “I’m a Dumbocrat and I’m mad at the president.”

[tiki]

I’m sure thousands if not 170 million are already being evicted as we speak.

[Rocky]

I wonder how many of Obama’s SEIU buddies are going to lose their jobs because of the sequester? No wonder Obama is distancing himself from this plan, even though the plan originally came from his White House.

[VeniVidiVici]

The 48-year-old building engineer at the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing hasn’t had a cost-of-living pay raise in more than two years,

My heart bleeds.

[right way right]

To the people in the article.
Welcome to OBAMAVILLE.

I have been struggling since that bastard took office in 09

Vacation Pay? Cost of living RAISES? WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! Cry me an F’n river!

BARF!

[right way right]

I wanna slap that BITCH!

He just wouldn’t understand why...

[Brad from Tennessee]

In the Newsmeat list of contributions Greg Russell's 2008 contribution to KRATOVIL, FRANK M MR. JR (D) lists Russell as a “US Gov’t/Union Officer.”

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?city=Stevensville&st=MD&last=Russell&first=Gregory

[Lancey Howard]

Heh, a "union officer".
That explains why Greg Russell is such a smooth liar.

I still wonder about the complicity of the reporter. Isn't it an amazing coincidence that she stumbled upon this guy to interview for her story? Yeah. An amazing coincidence. That's what it was.

[xrmusn]

I still wonder about the complicity of the reporter. Isn’t it an amazing coincidence that she stumbled upon this guy to interview for her story? Yeah. An amazing coincidence. That’s what it was
= = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Oh Ye of Little Faith.

I suppose you don’t believe it when something happens in the Mid East, CNN will go out to the middle of ‘No Mans Land’, knock on a tent flap and get to interview someone who speaks flawless Kings English.
While in this country we have got some from his Village working 7/11’s, driving cabs etc and they hardly know their OWN language.

Coinkydink? I think not...Well, maybe but haven’t seen them ‘miss’ yet.

[goldstategop]

The politicians aren’t cutting their own paychecks. But they expect federal workers to work for free. People can only take only so much stress in this Obaconomy.

[poobear]

“The 48-year-old building engineer at the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing”

Now there’s a Dept. we just can’t live without.

[sopwith]

Thanks for that info, I emailed to the writer with the link.
Not that it will do any good.

[saneright]

“Let me get this straight, We are paying a fire fighter at the U.S. Naval Academy $72,000 per year PLUS Benefits. OK. When was the last time he fought a fire he didn’t have a hand in starting?”

Man this guy is a piker. In NJ a 48 year old firefighter would prbably be a retired FF with a 72K a year pension plus medical benefits for life. If he wasn’t retired he would be earning somewhere between 100k - 150k a year plus benefits plus OT. Cops comepnsation packages are similar.

It’s good that the state (and municipalities & counties) spend so much money on bloated salaries and benefits. This way they have absolutely no money left to fix the infrastructure when the state gets ravaged by a tropical storm. Money well spent.

Any questions on why that pathetic state is broke?

[napscoordinator]

has free health care for him and his entire family,

You are clearly the biggest liar I have ever seen. You and Obama along with Romney are EXACTLY the same. You spout BS that you have no idea what you are talking about and act like it is true. If you want to lie about the guy, at least make it more believable than Maxine Waters over the top nonsense.

[tanknetter]

yep, some “Republican”. Crazy how the MSM finds spokespeople for our side who aren’t on our side.

The guy's a "Republican" in the People's Republic of Maryland, which is THE epitome of a One-Party (Democrat) Machine State.

I'd guess he's a registered Republican for the sole reason of being able to vote for the worst possible candidate in GOP primaries. Like how a lot of Conservatives were registering Dem in 2008 for Operation Chaos.

[maggief]

Registered Republican? This guy??

http://www.iaff121.org/

IAFF Local F121 - Representing Federal Fire Fighters in MD, VA & DC

...

Greg Russell, President

[Fresh Wind]

...free health care for him and his entire family...

Not true. Federal employees do contribute to their health care, roughly 1/3 of the total cost, while Uncle Sugar pays the other 2/3. Still a great deal for them, though.

[SkyPilot]

Some of the comments on this board make me want to think about leaving the Republican party permanently.

Yesterday, a single mom I know who is a GS-05 called me up. Look up that pay - it isn't much. She has a child with severe medical issues. Her husband abandoned her and the child several years ago. There is very little money in her home due to all her medical and other expenses (if you think insurance covers everything, dream on).

She works for the Dept of Defense. She doesn't accept any handouts. She doesn't take Food Stamps. She doesn't have an ObamaPhone. She pays her taxes (Federal, State, local, and property). Yet, on this board and all over the country, people like her are vilified. She is vilified by the same people who have no problem cashing their own entitlement check, or taking their own government healthcare, or being employed a lucrative government contract.

She will take a 20% cut, yet she still has to make her payments for her insurance, car repairs on her 15 year old car, and a mortgage for a small house in a marginal area.

She broke down in tears at the end of the conversation and asked me to pray for her.

For anyone out there who is still a Christian (not too many left on this board it seems), please pray for Beth.

When I hear Hannity talk about this as being a "2% cut" I want to scream. It is not a 2% cut for the Dept of Defense. ">It is a 13% cut. This cut is not being shared. 2/3rds of all spending encompassing Entitlements are EXEMPT from Sequestration. Any out there who didn't fail 4th grade math?

Congress and the President will do just fine, thank you.

I am disgusted by the behavior of our own government, and the comments by some on this board. You hurl accusations at the noble. Many of these people who are about to get screwed are not "the takers." They are hard working Americans who are doing their best for a noble agency that is Constitutional.

God help us all.