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Subscribe to RSSDepartment of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano warns that the U.S. can't maintain the same level of security with sequester cuts – House Majority Leader Eric Cantor later dismissed her warning as rhetoric.
With less than five days to go before the so-called sequester forces across-the-board federal budget cuts, members of the president’s cabinet warned how cuts to their departments would affect Americans’ everyday lives.
Monday’s distress signals from Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano came a day after two other cabinet leaders admonished Congress for some of the most high-profile consequences of the sequester, like cuts to education and air traffic control.
Salazar warned that the department would not be able to hire the seasonal workers needed to maintain national parks through the peak summer tourism season, meaning some favorite destinations might be off-limits.
“The public should be prepared for reduced hours and services not only in national parks but across all of the facilities which are managed by the Department of the Interior,” he said in a conference call with reporters. He added, “This will include reduced hours of operation for visitor centers, shorter seasons and closing of campgrounds, hiking trails and other recreational areas."
Like Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Friday, Napolitano appeared in the White House Briefing Room, where she responded to the question of whether the country would be "less safe after the sequester."
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood discusses how the looming spending cuts will affect air travel.
"I don't think we can maintain the same level of security at all places around the country with sequester as without sequester," she said.
She stressed that cuts to her department would mean longer airport delays. “If you're traveling by air, you're going to have to start getting to the airport earlier. And if you're trying to make a connecting flight, you're going to have to make your arrangements to give you greater time with which to do that."
The former Arizona governor also warned of furloughed border protection officers, which would “affect our ability to keep out illegal migrants” and the government’s diminished ability to respond to national emergencies.
“Threats from terrorism and the need to respond and recover from natural disasters do not diminish because of budget cuts,” she said.
LaHood and Education Secretary Arne Duncan were dispatched to the Sunday talk shows to criticize Congress for the cuts scheduled to hit their departments.
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Homeland Scary, Tzarina, Napo, uh Napal, uh Napi, oh hell, we'll just call her the "Napster" rolled out her prepared armageddon, if Obama has to cut .001 cent on the dollar of his out-of-control spending. [Nearly one MILLION a week, just riding around in Air Force One] so he can smoke and swig beer! If this crap wasn't so nuts, it would be hilarious! These idiots are actually having mental fits! She even said the Coast Guard will have to shut down in Alaska and the Bering Strait! Bet that goes over well with the crab fishermen in that area! If a fishing boat gets in trouble out there, who in the hell is going to their rescue? Would this make Oblaba and the "Napster" accessories to murder?? These fools are telling me, that if I spit in the Ocean, it will flood New York!! The damned EPA [poisoning our air] won't be there to stop it. Good grief! What a bunch of clowns!
Come on Obama!?!
Not another CRISIS! Stop with the scare tactics and fear!
Stop a minute - think about this folks
There is NO Budget in place - and the deadline for the government to shut down - without one - is in just a few weeks
That means - total government shutdown - not just this little piece - Obama is hyping and inducing fear on
What then Barack? You're not even mentioning this? Why?
Does he - really think the American people are that stupid to not realize this? (Yes he does)
Those crying about this sequester - have got to feel really stupid - knowing this
The American people have either joined Barack's incompententcy or turned 100% stupid
What a sad and pathetic way to govern Obamanation
You can not - spell Liberal - without - A Lie
If each of the registered Democrats would donate a dollar a day for a year to the President to spend on whatever he deemed the most worthy that would put $26645000000 dollars back into the country.. Just $1 a day.
Obama is the
most radical, destructive and worst President in history. He is arrogant, a pot
head, lazy (only works 10am to 4pm) incompetent, lawless, a fraud, never had a
real job, aloof and a COMMUNIST. Obama and the Democrat party are continuing to
destroy the great US economy. In four years they have; deficit spent $6.5
trillion (most of any Pres.) with nothing to show for it, increased national
debt to $16.5 trillion and counting, real unemployment rate of 15%, no job
growth, 8.5 million lost jobs, 24 million underemployed, black/hispanic unemployment
over 30%, hate oil/coal industries, fossil fuels, military, private sector,
success, constitution, right to bear arms, over 1,808 soldiers killed in
Iraq/Afgn since Obama became Pres., one in six people in poverty (highest ever),
stole $716 billion in Medicare benefits from seniors to fund Obamacare, wasted
billions of taxpayer funds on scam clean energy deals like Solyndra and Ener1
to campaign donors, disastrous Obamacare has already raised health rates 50%,
is largest tax increase in history and now costs $2.8 trillion, foreign policy
of cowardice and appeasement, supports worst Ex Sec. of State in history,
Hillary Clinton, who is responsible for the murder of Libyan ambassador and
three staffers in Benghazi, supports worst AG in history Eric Holder, who is
responsible for killing a border agent, 49 million on food stamps and increased
business killing govt regulation/employment more than any other Pres. Obama
should be impeached.