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Subscribe to RSSAs the country gets closer and closer to Friday's deadline before the automatic "sequester" spending cuts take effect, the Obama White House has issued dire warnings -- like 10,000 teachers could be laid off, and "2,100 fewer food inspections could occur."
Over the weekend, in fact, the White House went so far as to break down the cuts by state.
Speaking at the White House briefing on Wednesday, Education Secretary Arne Duncan noted that most of the effects of the sequester on education funding -- which could mean up to 40,000 lost jobs -- won't be felt until later in the year.
But Duncan said that, in some school districts with particularly early budgeting processes, teachers are already receiving pink slips.
"It's Title I teachers and Head Start teachers. So it's these funding sources that are going to get cut. Whether it's all sequester related, I don't know. But these are teachers who are getting pink slips now."
Duncan singled out Kanawha County in West Virginia as a school system where Head Start and Title I teachers are already on the chopping block.
Indeed, NBC News spoke with Karen Williams, the director of Head Start in the Kanawha County School system, who admitted that the possible layoffs in her country have more to do with funding grant applications and bureaucracy -- and less to do with the impending cuts.
Right now, Ms. Williams is waiting to see if her Head Start grant will be approved and if the program will get funded for the next school year. She's also waiting for a date of when they'll know if they're approved or not. At first, the Region III office of the Department of Education said the school system would hear a grant decision by December, and then it was shifted to some unknown date in the spring.
"I can't get anyone to make a decision," Williams said.
Because of West Virginia state laws, the uncertainty over the $2.7 million in Head Start funding this district relies on has caused Williams herself, Head Start teachers, teacher’s aides and administrative staff to receive what’s known as RIF -- or Reduction in Force -- and transfer letters.
One transfer letter states: “The Kanawha County Schools Head Start grant has not yet been approved, therefore it is necessary to recommend you for transfer and subsequent
assignment.”
The letter itself doesn’t necessarily mean certain unemployment. If the money doesn’t come through, a teacher or staffer with seniority could be reassigned. But people at the bottom of the totem pole will lose their jobs.
The county's Head Start grant employs 39 people, and it serves about 530 children. Both Williams and the school system's Head Start coordinator, Diane Young, said the federal funding waiting game isn't business as usual. "I've been the director for nine years, and this is the first time it's happened," Williams said.
"I am so stressed out. I don't sleep. I take my job very very seriously," Williams added.
Leave a Comment:
Unrelated but
The head of arrest and deportation of illegals has resigned with the advent of the release of said illegals for "budget restraints". (That would be BS scare tactics once again at the direction of the Scare-Quester chicken littles)
And yes, he was scheduled to retire but it would seem his disgust with the edict passed by his superiors may have contributed to his earlier that projected departure.
I have some problem with a conservative claim that government spending is always a result of too many bureaucrats on the government payroll.
In fact, it's often the useful spending on teachers. This is an investment in our bright future. But when Conservatives cut govt spending, these conservatives often lay off our teachers who have devoted to the reinvention of America but haven't got credit from these conservatives.
@Talk,
You know what they say about people who "Talk" to themselves....
@Pig,
c what? I'm looking... ;)
btw I've played and lost the "beat the "Edit Time Clock" game myself!
Hey BB, the edit time ran out. What you have never seen Feisty or Bev or others with just a period for a leading comment. Look at pigs above. Simply a "c" to reserve the spot.
http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=25FE27AC-0B35-0B4D-DE617A097ED609F5
Talk to the hand. They should throw that treasonous ICE official in jail, take away his pay, benefits and pension.
Talk, you are projecting and insinuating. Until the man himself discloses(if) his "mixed emotions" at submitting his resignation and the timing of, although he and his superiors stated he had planned on submitting his retirement resignation letter, it is clearly speculation. I don't see anywhere in the Politico article that says he is disgusted. That seems to be more speculation on your part.
@ Common: What is it with you extreme right wingers that you call nearly everyone "treasonous"? Do us all a favor and look up the damn word!
Well AG how would you analyze it? That's the trouble with you liberals sometimes. You just can't come to grips with the fact that not everyone in the administration bows and polishes the shoes of the anointed one. Listen to the news reports following this "breaking story" and see what you come up with. The timing is just too obvious.
Hey, Talk to the Hand (#1)
What??
What do U Talk to the Hand about
Gee lefties don't let the facts get in your way. The sky will not fall and the United States will continue to run. There might be some job loses, but most will be furloughs (a cut back in hours). A couple of years ago CA had to do the same thing with State workers, (1 or 2 days a month), and guess what, the State functioned just fine. In fact a lot of the employees liked it.
Why is everyone so concerned, since the spending for this year, even with the cuts, is more than last year and are projected to increase again next year.
Pigotry -- Why is it the Federal Governments responsibility to pay for school teachers at the state and local level? That is the responsibility of local school districts, and the states. BTW, I believe talk was referring to Arnie Duncan getting caught in a LIE, and having to back track.
@Pig,
Have wondered greatly at the recent vilification of teachers by Conservatives.
All of a sudden, being educated means that you are an "Elitist".
All college professors are "Liberals" filling their students' heads with a "Progressive Agenda".
Better to home-school your kids and teach them all about "Creationism".
If you don't agree, you are labeled a "Low Information Voter".
Boggles the mind.
As explained above, ran out of edit time. Of course being the seasoned professional poster you are your "c" posting held your spot and you got yours in on time.
As for the Talk to the Hand, that is for you and your "defensive line" of FR. Talk to the hand cause the ears don't need to hear it.
And sfcret, they jump on the teachers and firefighters and police right away because supposedly without the federal funding help, there isn't enough to maintain them. Every year except last when we got a new school superintendent here in Charlotte, they laid off teachers fearing a "reduction in state funding for education". All it turned out to be was a way to weed out the bad teachers with an excuse. After they layoffs they couldn't find enough teachers to fill the positions they didn't think they could "maintain". Yet the laid off ones were left in the lurch wondering WTF happened.
This article is so confusing, IMHO, it doesn't constitute news.
.
What bothers me about the whole 'sequester' thing, is that all the reasonable economists say we need spending cuts . . . BUT NOT NOW . . . we need them in the long-term future.
what we need now is GROWTH . . . jobs, JOBS & MORE JOBS! if we get to full emplyment, the deficit will mostly take care of itself.
.
Only 6% of Americans know that GROWTH is the problem, not "spending." But, guess what, when you give Americans a list of ~25 items, they DO NOT WANT TO CUT ANY OF THEM - NOT ONE!
.
The deficit has already fallen dramatically, but the ReThuglicans (what a surprise!) are not telling the truth . . . WHY? because they want they Norquist thing about making Gov so small you can drown it in a bathtub. When Obama took office, the deficit was 10% of GDP . . . it is now down to 5%!
.
Even if you don't usually like The Last Word, I suggest you go to MSNBC.com & look at the last 2 night's worth of video's - Ezra Kelin has been guess hosting, and really explains all this VERY WELL . . . and has even had a number of conservative guests, for you righties :-)
.
Meanwhile, Mr Boehner: WHERE ARE THE JOBS?!?!? YOU PROMISED US ***JOBS***!!!
.
FORWARD! :-)
Talk to the Hand
Unrelated but
But still devastating ; Hand,
Watch how much worst it gets when your Tea Sucker's delight kicks in.
Tea Sucker's ♥ sequestration and destroying the country because they;re idiots that only talk to hands.
Ok, Mead at ICE is retiring not resigning.....big difference.....get an annuity vs no annuity!
So he retires!
TTTH is cherry picking the article.....Typical TeaPeople!
@ Talk:You are still speculating. I don't know and neither do you if the timing is just a coincidence or he is indeed upset about letting some low level immigrants go free. I'm not happy about letting illegals go free once the time and resources have been spent bringing them in. Why didn't we just drive them to the border and walk them back into Mexico, if that's where they came from?
Stop with your crap about "the anointed one". It only serves to make you look as if you fit right in with the stupid party(hey, Jindal is the one saying it!). Never has anyone implied that everyone who works in the Administration is an Obama fan. Many of the people that work in these areas have been through many administrations so who's to say that the guy is Dem or Repub? Who knows, but he has either just had enough, or he is upset by the release of the illegals. The point is we don't know the facts, but hey, speculate away. One way or another by the end of the day you guys will have made your "truth" as you see it.
Read the Politico article chilled. You cherry picked the one that the administration wanted you to see. Both sides can play that game.
And I really love the comebacks. Means you people are actually thinking and realizing that perhaps the "other side" is right. Methinks you doth protest too much.
Heck, TTTH, I believe Mr. Mead.....
He's, retiring, after a combined 46 years of Federal Service!
No, Talk, you and your type have underestimated many of us. Kinda like your party did this last November. HA! Still stings a little doesn't it? LOL
Pigotry,
We spend more per pupil than any other country in the world and I personally do not think we are getting a return on that money as shown by test scores. I am one of the lucky ones and was able to send my children to private school but I want to help those less fortunate and make sure they have a future.
That is not blaming teachers but the rules that allow bad teachers to stay instead of being able to bring in new blood with new methods to make us competitive. Right now our work force is very under skilled so companies like Honeywell that want to build plants cannot because there are not enough engineers to work.
Hey, jerry l-1335133 (#1.20)
Well, I don't think it's fair to always criticize teachers who have made so much sacrifices with little pay and not much recognition. Just like in a war, if the war goes poorly, we don't usually blame soldiers on the ground.
The problem I have with this sequester issue is that many cabinet members are threatening to cut essential items from their budget while not touching non-essential items. This is all for the media to amplify. Again, each of these cabinet members has a budget that they need to manage, but again, that seems to be something lacking nowadays in America. This is pure politics, nothing more.
Maybe it did at first AlaskaGirl, but the American people deserve the leaders they vote in (and the consequences that follow). But, it will be your democratic party that rides this country into bankruptcy. Mr. Obama has YET to have a budget passed (even when he had the House and Senate in his party's control), let alone a BALANCED BUDGET.
Heck, they can't even make modest cuts in spending without having a hissy fit.
Pigotry,
I did not blame the teachers but the system. The problem I have is people who want to keep the system going which is hurting the children who they are pretending to be concerned about.
Didn't Obama and both parties already do about 1.2 T in spending cuts? What? Is that just chump change? Those cuts affect real people and in turn it affects real businesses. None of us are saying that we don't expect there to be more cuts, but we also expect there to be revenue, and rolling back the Bush tax cuts doesn't count. Now is not the time for the kind of cuts that sequester will put into effect. Not when the economy is moving forward(no not as fast as we would all like, but forward is forward and we should all be thankful it's not moving backward), and many economists say our economy is poised to take off with some real positive growth, but now with sequester, many thousands of people may lose their jobs, many will get their hours cut back, many will forgo this year's summer vacation to save some money, thus hurting our tourism. This all means less money in the pockets of our fellow citizens, this means more people forced into unemployment and food stamps. Is this what we want? To go back to 2008? We've come too far to go back. Yes, our deficit is way out there, and yes, we do need to get it under control, and finally getting our unfunded wars over with will give us some more money to help our country. Instead of putting a hatchet to our own people, why aren't we doing some extreme cutting to all the countries we give hand outs to?
Didn't Obama and both parties already do about 1.2 T in spending cuts? What? Is that just chump change? Those cuts affect real people and in turn it affects real businesses. None of us are saying that we don't expect there to be more cuts, but we also expect there to be revenue, and rolling back the Bush tax cuts doesn't count. Now is not the time for the kind of cuts that sequester will put into effect. Not when the economy is moving forward(no not as fast as we would all like, but forward is forward and we should all be thankful it's not moving backward), and many economists say our economy is poised to take off with some real positive growth, but now with sequester, many thousands of people may lose their jobs, many will get their hours cut back. This all means less money in the pockets of our fellow citizens, this means more people forced into unemployment and food stamps. Is this what we want? To go back to 2008? We've come too far to go back. Yes, our deficit is way out there, and yes, we do need to get it under control, and finally getting our unfunded wars over with will give us some more money to help our country. Instead of putting a hatchet to our own people, why aren't we doing some extreme cutting to all the countries we give hand outs to?
Alaska,
Remember that their are no cuts, just decreases in the rate of increase of the Federal Budget. If we cannot cut $85 billion out of a $3.7 trillion budget we do not have much hope of reducing the debt.
Please remember that the Federal spending will increase next year even if the sequester goes into effect.
From the article above:
It's sickening how Republicans are giddy with there fellow Americans losing their jobs.
Because they are solely responsible for the sequester and obviously don't give a damn about the people of this country, let's make sure that in 2014, we give all the Republicans in the House pink slips.
Karma's a %$#@&.
Salud
"the sky is falling the sky is falling"
Pathetic just pathetic
Thomas, Really? I thought that committee was made up of equal number of R's as D's....I remember because when I heard John Kerry was on it I knew they would end up with no resolution. Frankly, I thought the whole idea of threatening blind cuts (essentially, lesser yearly budget increases) to force a compromise was kind-of stupid.
What they should have done is televised the negotiations and put it on EVERY cable channel. That way, every American citizen could see our elected leaders in action as they made their side's case.
I'm pretty sure conservatives are not "giddy" about anyone loosing their job. I would bet they would want 0% employment. The more people working, the more people paying taxes (uhm, I mean "Revenues") thereby reducing the country's debt.
jerry- Don't confuse them with the facts. You will note however you will not get a response unless it is calling you a name or talking bad about your mother or accusing you of reading between the lines which libs have a hard time with.
ToxicChemist
I would have rather enjoyed seeing the debates on TV. It seems like both sides like attributing the sequester totally to the other side.
Sad that the situation sucks so bad it took over 500 people to create. I'm still not sure why the blame game goes on back and forth. Oh, it was Obama's idea and he said he'd never sign legislation repealing it, but that idea was so good that the Republicans voted it into the House.
Obama's fault. Republicans fault. Democrats fault.
Oh, I'll just end the charade. It's all my fault. There. Now that it's out there, can we start having a sequester discussion that doesn't involve "it's (so and so's) fault"? Just say it's my fault. :)
More dramatic crap & BS. Maybe start the spending cuts with the first lady, cutting back on the expensive dresses & hairdos, vacations, etc.
The Federal government is not responsible for the employment of local teachers. The trickle down effect of government money (redistribution of wealth) to the states and the states to the towns is going to dry up over the next decade, and local taxes are going to skyrocket and there are going to be layoffs...all this is already known.
SO I ASK YOU ALL...What is the point of this worthless MSNBC article when all this is a given?
I will tell you what it is. I am an independent voter: The cuts will have little or no effect in the big picture (there will be only a small effect on GDP and taxable income), clearly showing the tremendous waste in government spending in trickle down spending. However, the media, MSNBC in particular is going to write slanted articles on how badly the sky is falling and how this person or that person was effected.
Yeah Repojam, it sounds like what the parents of 2 children would hear coming from the back seat of their car. If these are the people we are relying on for our country's future we're screwed......
ProFreedom:: And what sort of comments do you have on the wardrobe or hairdo or vacations of either of the Bush first ladies? Probably none, because they were WASPs and republican'ts to boot. And what do you know of the cost of Mrs. Obama's wardrobe, hairdo and vacations. I mean REAL knowledge of those things and NOT a spam email or spam article you read SOMEWHERE.
This administration is reeking with "Havoc", "Gloom and Doom", and "Fear Mongering" officials.
They are ALL vying for BEST ACTOR award for next year.
Wait a minute, when asked a simple question they are ALL speechless. Deny, deflect, and blame is the name of the Progressive GAME.
Yep, Mr. "Drama" Obama was responsible for the Sequester before he was against it. Whatever happens, it will be
Bush'sthe Republicans fault.I am surprised at MSNBC they seem to be getting a little upset with the Administration. I even heard Chuck Todd on Morning Joe say that the Honeymoon is over. Really?? It is about time.
Obama will be damaged from this. Not only did he propose the legislation but he signed it into law. You can try to spin this on Repubs but it is not sticking this time.
Obama lately seems to be coming unhinged. How is he going to last 4 more years of this blame game. Evenutally when the economy collapses, is he going to blame that on repubs too? When they tried to stop the Obama spending machine? Well, good luck with that.
These scare tactics aren't going to work this time.
The world is NOT going to end in chaos.
If the govt. can't cut 1% per dept. without layoffs, then they need managers!!!!
And yet another fool caught in a lie falls on the sword for Obama!
Where is the NBC story on Woodward and Obama? Surely you protect your own???
So pig why don't you contact Obama and ask him why we are sending 60 million to Syria muslim radicals instead of supporting the teachers!
Piggy's quote: "I have some problem with a conservative claim that government spending is always a result of too many bureaucrats on the government payroll."
Looks like we have too many foreign countries on the taxpayers payroll too! 50 billion + to be exact
If the quality of the education increase in the same level of their budget I'll be crying allow for any penny cut the their programs, but this is not the case DoE is another big fat pork , the increase in their budget do nit provide better education, provide more bureaucracy and waste in DC. The big lie that sequestration will affect , police, shcools is nothing more thanscare tactics, school teachers are payed by States and counties not federal government. However it is despicable that this administration order to release delinquents illegal immigrant and putting back to the street, creating more danger to the population , when the flirts obligation of the president is the safety of the population.
John Kerry announces $60 million is going to Syria. DHS releases illegals before the "cuts" hit. I don't see how anyone can defend these actions.
If these "cuts" go through spending levels are still above 2011 - WHY WEREN'T TEACHERS LAID OFF THEN???
Sorry - how can anyone defend this - The President announces 10,000 teachers will get laid off - GO TO THE GOVERNMENT WEBSITE. There are thousands and thousands of jobs being offered around the country.
WHICH IS IT??? are we laying off or hiring???
How can you defend this?????
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/331812200
Job Title:Assistant Director (Office of Defender Services)
SALARY RANGE:
$169,436.00 to $174,000.00 / Per Year
Here's another one:
Administrative Support Assistant (OA), GS-303-5/6/7, you must: Be...
Department:
Department Of Health And Human Services
Agency:
Food and Drug Administration
Open Period:
2/28/2013 to 3/7/2013
Who May Apply:
United States Citizens
Location(s):
College Park, Maryland
Salary:
$34,075.00 - $56,000.00 / Per Year
Duncan is just doing his boss's fear-mongering as he has been instructed. The Obama administration is doing its best to make the public fearful of these cuts, which frankly are not very drastic at all. In fact they aren't actual cuts. These reductions just decrease the explosive rate that our government's spending is skyrocketing.
You raise some very valid points that I think bear repeating.
Adding to your points...the US also has the lowest student to teacher ratio in the world. To me, it doesn't appear that we lack funds for education - it's more a case of not getting good use out of the money we are spending.
Also, when I hear non-politicians talk about education issues, the 2 problems I hear most often are; (1) the lack of discipline in the classroom, and (2) the amount of paperwork teachers have to do instead of actually teaching the children. Just throwing more money at education isn't going to solve these problems. In fact, my guess is the paperwork problem would only increase because the non-teachers would then require more paperwork in order to more closely monitor the teachers (I did process control for years, and I saw that cycle many times...more money can definitely lead to less production).
Save us Obi Wan Obama, you're our only hope.
Have wondered greatly at the recent vilification of teachers by Conservatives.
The accusations are mid-directed. It's like getting mad at the hammer because it hit your thumb, or mad at the gun because it fired the bullet. There IS a problem in our education system, but for the most part, it isn't the teachers. They are the ignorant tools being used in our public education.
If you want a good synopsis of our education system, google Daren Jonescu and read some of his recent articles on the American Thinker. But don't do like most and just laugh it off that he's a conservative, go ahead and do what I did, research his facts other places. You'll find he makes a lot of good points.
All of a sudden, being educated means that you are an "Elitist".
Unsupported claim. I'm educated and have never felt that I was labeled an Elitist.
All college professors are "Liberals" filling their students' heads with a "Progressive Agenda".
There actually is a LOT of truth to this. This also depends on the college courses you take. As a software engineer, I didn't really see any of this in my major courses. But in my social gen ed courses I definitely saw this. I also attended an excellent, but not well known technical college. I have a feeling this is a LOT more prevalent in larger colleges such as the Ivy League.
Better to home-school your kids and teach them all about "Creationism".
It has nothing to do with creationism, but nice way to put a spin on it. It has more to do with making sure they get a complete education. My son is 14 and has attended public school during all of his school age years. I had to teach him last year how to do long division, he can't read/write cursive (so reading our constitution in it's original form is out), his history education has major holes in it, and incorrect information, the problems go on. When I was his age, I was much further along in courses, but of course that was before the DOE had the chance to get in and @!$%# it all up. There are also social issues in public education now that I strongly disagree with, such as child care centers are middle schools and high schools. That is the same as giving a tax payer funded needle to a junkie, it's called enabling (psych 201). But in the day and age of reality shows like Teen Mom, what do you expect.
If you don't agree, you are labeled a "Low Information Voter".
Or ignorant, or blind, there's many other labels I would put on you... of course just calling you a liberal covers them all.
Here is Rand Paul's "solution" to the "teacher" problems:
Right Wing Fraud Alert: Rand Paul wants tax dollars to fund Fundamentalist Christian schools. What about "Separation of Church and State"..?? If that is allowed, what happens when American Muslims want tax dollars for an Islamic school, and Catholics for a Catholic school, and Jews for Jewish schools, etc, etc, etc. Do you think the American Religious Right Wing would not fight that?? It's time to bury Tea Party Express fraud and hypocrisy...
Didn't Duncan get the message? He's playing a role in Obama's new Hollywood production entitles "The Sky is Falling".
Of course, we see no mention of the FACT that federal spending will actually INCREASE this year, even with the sequester. WHY????????????? Because it's not an actual cut in spending - It's a cut in the INCREASE in spending - It's part of the 'smoke and mirrors' budgeting process called "Baseline Budgeting" which allows politicians to actually increase spending but call it a 'cut' because it's less than they originally wanted spending to increase.
The Teaching problem is two fold .We do have a fair amount of poor teachers.Some of this is because many people are not good at their jobs,no matter how long they are at that job.The other problem is Government interference. The ignorance of our Government in insisting on this no child to be left behind,resulted in what should have been obvious to even the persons who advocated that plan.That meant our so called leaders were saying that we must lower our education standards to the lowest common denominator,and that was supposed to make sense?
Defined pension plans, early retirement and tenure are problems we have with education. Have any of you raised children? Good teachers should be supported and paid well but you have to determine who is and who isn't. The money isn't going to the kids anymore. What would seniority have to do with who is the best teacher? It is not about the kids, it is about the teachers anymore.
Has any of the people posting here screaming at teachers losing their jobs actually reviewed and read the financials of these districts?
I'm an Accountant and I have, did you know that 35% of the annual wage budget for school districts are for administrative staff. If you slash that % down by 10% you can actually hire 180 more teachers and still met the budget on wages. Therefore, when budgets are slashed it is intended for schools to trim down administrative functions not teachers. But these individuals feel its easier to slash a teacher to send a message that "OMG education is on the downturn because of these cuts".
There are three things you can do to get school budgets under control and put it back in teaching the kids:
Only my thoughts here.
Monkeybones: you must not be a very good accountant. Do you know how much money local schools get from Federal and State grant programs when they don't have administrators to file the annual request forms and the monthly, quarterly, annual, bi-annual, etc. reports? NONE, zip, zero, nada.
Taking money away from public schools and giving it to for profit charter schools does not fix the system. The limited availability of space in charter schools allows them to cherry pick the students. Its easy to look great when you have class room sizes of less than 20 students per teacher and the school can decide to exclude students who are "failing to progress."
dirp,
You must be an idiot if you think local schools don't get administrators. What planet do you live on...have you read the financial statements or just making crap up. And did you even read what I stated or just rolled your eyes when someone actually makes some good points. Maybe you are a bad reader or writer as you never actually back your facts up with information.
Again, read the financial statements of public school boards.
Expect anything from government once their scorched earth campaign starts.
scorched earth? Is it the source of global warming?
@Pig,
scorched earth?
Thought I smelled bacon! ;)
Oh, Snap! Nice one, little pig!
Yes, it is the source of Global Warming - it started January, 2001.....
Arnie Duncan does NOT have power over the unions about who gets laid off or not ! teachers are protected by the thug unions and past history shows even bad (molester and having sex ) teachers still some how get their pension's , even when they get convicted and go to jail !
oh and by the way were is the article about WOODWARD, LANNY DAVIS being threaten by white house "that they would regret this" talking against obama's decisions about sequester...
Politico and AP have commented that they would lose their white house press credentials !
Head Start does nothing but provide free babysitting services. Let the criminal illegals that are being released by ICE babysit those kids.
Well, we know you certainly didn't go through the Head Start program. That much is quite evident. Do a little research as to exactly what that program is all about. You do understand how research works, do you not? I'm sure we can provide you a tutorial should you need some assistance.
I understand how government research works. It comes to the conclusion that something doesn't work, but makes the recommendation that we should spend more and more money on it in the hopes that someday it will work.
Head Start gains fade out by first grade.
Alaska girl - Since you know about this head start program (apparently) can you help me - it's been in place how long now? Do we have results? Where are all these bright children? Surely if head start is so successful our graduation rate should be 99%... RIGHT?
I'm sure your answer will be "do a little research" - I have - the program is a waste... Have you researched it?
Here are the results from the program itself - bottom line - for $7200 per year per student there is no significant impact from the program.
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/opre/hs_impact_study_final.pdf
Head Start is a proven failure and yet no one in Washington can find any waste to cut.
NJSteve: you must have read a different study from the one you referenced.
The study you referenced indicated that there was a positive overall effect from having the Head Start program in place.
Head Start itself is a program designed to allow the children of people who would otherwise not have the ability to pay for pre-school the opportunity to have their children get pre-school.
The study only shows the impact through 1st grade.
What should be done is a study to follow the effects of Head Start through high school and even through college.
After all, if we give money Head Start and it doesn't improve the lives of each and every person who goes to Head Start for the better for the whole length of their educational career, what is the point, right?
There are fewer government employees under Obama than there has been for decades. The deificit has actually been shrinking a little too. This with the Congress doing nothing. Imagine what could happen with Congress actually making sensibel cuts and sensible revenue increases. Wow, something done in Washington...Maybe miracles happen afterall.
Congress doing "nothing" as you say is exactly why the number of employees and the deficit is shrinking a little too. The mid terms put an end to over legislation and spending just as we wanted it to.
Way to spin, spin away there, Talk.
It's Obama, stupid!
The budget deficit as a percent of GDP has shrunk from 10% to 5% of GDP and in real dollars it has declined by 40% from $1.5 Trillion to $900 Billion.
The deficit is shrinking because there are more people working, paying taxes.
@Talk,
The only thing that the '10 mid terms put an end to is the capacity of Reason and Compromise in the House of Congress.
Hopefully, only temporarily...
Adlers......lots and lots of spin.
First, state were shrinking government employees and Obama has no effect on that.
Second, the deficit has been shrinking because of the republicans who do nothing and refuse to let Obama spend and spend.
Adler - According to OMB Federal Employees grew by 123,000 (6.2) under President Obama.
http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/25/news/economy/obama_government/index.htm
That should have been (6.2%)
Non-Military Federal Government employees:
Jan 2007 = 2,636,000 Jan 2009 = 2,774,000 net +138,000 >> Bush (+5.2%)
Jan 2009 = 2,774,000 Jan 2011 = 2,756,000 net -18,000 >> Obama (-0.6%)
http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/data-analysis-documentation/federal-employment-reports/historical-tables/total-government-employment-since-1962/
Dennis,
You attribute the reduction in the deficit to more people working but please do not forget in 2009 we had a stimulus program of $800 billion, cash for clunkers and many other programs. We have also ended the war in Iraq which has reduced spending plus money from TARP another $800 billion went out in 2009 and was partially paid back in later years.
A different question should be given the above why has the deficit not shrunk more?
Dennis - You might want to look at your numbers again. According to your link which states:1Data comes from agency 113 monthly submissions and covers total end-of-year civilian employment. The numbers are as of 31 Dec not Jan of the year. So it appears on 31 Dec 2008 the employment numbers were 2,692 (under Bush); as of Dec 31, 2011, the number was 2,756 (under Obama).
Another reason the deficit shrunk is the Republicans in Congress denying to approve a bunch of Obama's spending bills because Obama refused to cut other spending to pay for his programs. If Obama had gotten all the spending he actually wanted the deficit would be much higher.
Obama will try and force the Republicans to raise taxes again so he can spend more on HIS programs. I am all for closing loop holes but everyone, not just the rich, but at the same time we can revise all the tax laws (code) to delete deductions, subsidies and grants to businesses and college students. REVISE THE WHOLE DAMN TAX CODE NOW. Then if we need to change tax rates, so be it, but across the board and do away with EIC.
Oh my..., the drama...
Act 2 starting Friday ---- Did you hear Obama and the parties are to gather Friday the day the sequester starts? Is this not what happened with Act 1 the Cliff? Do you really have your head so far up your parties xxx that do not see what is coming?
Do you not remember both parties leaving the table stating "its not has bad as it could have been". Well the stage is set, the media is saying the sky is falling, and while they want you to think the are a divided as oil and water they are as thick as thefts and going to take whatever they want out of you pocket regardless of your party.
Give this a look....
1. If we talk about Iraq, the Repubs immediately holler out -- 'THE DEMS VOTED FOR IT! DON'T BLAME BUSH!"
2. If we talk about the sequester, voted for by 202 Republicans vs 140 Democrats -- the Repubs immediately holler out -- "OBAMA SUGGESTED IT! DON'T BLAME THE GOP!"
Conclusion....The GOP had no responsibility for the wars, and no responsibility for the sequester....if that is the case, what do we need the GOP for? They take no responsibility for ANYTHING!
Say What,
You have found the problem with our government now because Iraq is blames on Bush even though the whole Clinton Administration warned us of the dangers including his wife, Secretary of State, Rep. Pelosi, etc.
On the sequester the President is saying it is not him even though the idea came from his administration.
Until we hold both parties responsible no change will occur
Actualy the conclusion would be it takes two to tango. Its both the repuks and the dems fault.
It is the extremists on both sides. The extreme left is not different than the tea party. The Speaker of the House can't control his extremists and the president can't control his. The last month this administration has been all about gun control, now it is to try and scare us. Simpson/Bowles was a bipartisian commission. Why not embrace it as a beginning point?
Let's talk about Obama's "good war"--Afghanistan....
Obama is an idiot
Who started Iraq and Afghanistan at almost the same time, idi0t?
The only idiot is Trouble 1954 AKA Trouble 46545
Sure he's an idiot, but they call him Stinky.....because of the bo. One thing Stinky CAN'T cut is the modifications required on the entry to AF One to accommodate that fat bottomed Moochella! We should be happy that Stinks didn't opt to outfit a C130 to carry her around. No modification to the rear cargo hatch would be needed.....sure it's a tight fit, but the interior design wouldn't have been cost effective, not to mention the increase in horsepower to carry the extra heft.
Look at the people weeping and gnashing their teeth "a 2.4% cut is nothing....blah blah blah" But, by the same people, a 3% increase in taxes on the top 1% was outrageous!
The voters in this country are getting entirely fed up with republican bull@!$%#. This will become more and more apparent to you blind ones with each vote that comes up. By the time it all comes out in the wash, there will be no more GOP.
And who exactly came up with the entire idea?? For some reason it was the white house. Obamas very own whitehouse. Who agreed in 2011 that tax increases would be off limits and only budget cuts would be used with the sequester? The white house that would be Obama.
Who in government has passed 2 yes 2 bills to deal with the sequester in an adult way. The Republicans.
Who in government sits on his ass doing nothing and controls the senate... The Democrats.
Who in our great government raised taxes on the rich to 39% the Republicans and Democrats with Obama cheering all the way.
Who has decided not to live by his word and an agreement made to the republicans back in 2011
OBAMA
Facts that can no longer be ignored.
Who in the whitehouse said that raising the tax recently on the rich would not effect the poor?
OBAMA he raised your payroll tax also.
Who is currently attempting to destory your second amendment rights..
Obama
Good choice you made america...
You elected Dear leader!
Aunt Enema...
The Republicans have passed NOTHING. The 113th Congress has passed NOTHING. Any thing from the previous Congress is dead and must be resubmitted....
Take a civics class, you will not look so stupid. (BTW, Obama did not raise payroll taxes, the bill to lower them expired...more of your lies?)
You have NO facts, your entire post should be ignored.
Obama certainly did raise taxes, along with the Dems that pushed through the ACA..........the Supreme court ruled it was a TAX!!!!
Momma Ducks...
And it has not been implemented yet...This is 2013 not 2014....He did NOT raise taxes...take your lies elsewhere.
Most of ACA is already in place and activated..........do the research............i read all 906 pages, maybe you should?
Link:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-111hr3590enr/pdf/BILLS-111hr3590enr.pdf
You did? All 906? There are 2700 pages. No fees have been imposed, they do not start until Jan 2014, and then ONLY if you apply for health care services and have no insurance.
Sorry, your lies keep sinking you
Say What...........maybe you should do a little more research, as in what is EXEMPT from the cuts in the sequester........
http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3557
About $5.2 billion in cuts in the other mandatory programs that are subject to sequestration, the biggest of which is farm price supports. A number of key mandatory programs are exempt from sequestration, including Social Security, Medicaid, CHIP, SNAP (formerly known as the Food Stamp Program), child nutrition, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), refundable tax credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, veterans' benefits, and federal retirement.[4]
Also note these "cuts" are in additional funding:
For fiscal year 2013, the non-defense cuts would occur through across-the-board, proportional reductions in new funding for each discretionary program in the appropriations bills for the fiscal year, which Congress would already have enacted. (Veterans' medical care and Pell grants would be exempt from those cuts.)[5]
Active duty Military pay is also exempt.
Say What?-809562
You did? All 906? There are 2700 pages. No fees have been imposed, they do not start until Jan 2014, and then ONLY if you apply for health care services and have no insurance.
Sorry, your lies keep sinking you
Say What..........no actually your ignorance is sinking you.
The link I posted clearly shows 906 pages. Here let me copy & paste page showing 906 pages. This is the original ACA bill..........all 906 pages.
Here's the last page:
H. R. 3590—906
(d) E
FFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section
shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2009.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
And the link again, although I know you won't click on it.
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-111hr3590enr/pdf/BILLS-111hr3590enr.pdf
Mommy:
On the Sunday morning talk shows as well as in other outlets, there has been significant discussion regarding the size of H.R. 3962. Specifically, many critics have decried the length of the bill citing its 1990 pages. The bill is indeed 1990 pages as you can see if you choose to download a PDF copy of the bill.
BTW...I said NOTHING about exemptions to the sequester...did I?
It was cut down from the original 2710 pages.
Still waiting, Momma...where did I say anything about exemptions from the sequester?
Hello? Momma Dukes?
You didn't, however everyone is talking about the gloom and doom and it is allllllllllllllllllllll BS..........half the things that are being tossed are about the very programs that are exempt.
No dispute there, thanks for your honesty and integrity
The Government cuts this country needs is to cut all of the do-nothing politicians in Washington!!!!
The "do-nothings" aren't the problem. It's what the others DO that's harmful. Remember the effects of the gov't shutdowns? Nobody does. Nobody noticed. That's actually what President Stinky (bo) is afraid of, so he's determined to make it as painful for as many people (including and especially his base) as possible. Mainly because Stinky is.....well.......stinky.
steve,
the Gov was never shut down. Some SSI payments were delayed was all that happened. The last time the Government shut down was 1995 or 96.
It's really irrelevant that "teacher layoffs" aren't really part of the sequester. It's really not. It does, however, fit the narrative, so it's ok. THAT'S why the only person jailed for the murder of 4 Americans is the maker of the video that had nothing to do with it. It fit the narrative.
Who was jailed for the murders of Americans killed during the 12 embassy attacks 2001-2008? Who was reading fairy tales when 3000 American died on our home soil?
Fairy tales? You call his reading to elementary school kids reading fairy tales?
Isn't Obama parading teachers, the importance of head start etc? Maybe we should tell Obama it's fairy tales, think of all the money we would save!!!
More hypocrisy????
And if you really want to start pointing fingers about 9/11, better go look at Clinton, it started way before Bushwhacker took office.
He was reading "The Pet Goat" ==== You call that a history book or a story? Head Start is a proven successful program, Mommy. Too bad you and yours missed out.
Clinton warned Bush repeatedly about 9-11...he was also not President on 9-11-2001
If Clinton warned Bush about 9-11 why didn't Clinton stop it when he was President?
All the "benefits" of head start are erased by the first grade. It is nothing but a glorified babysitting program for low income.
As for me and my family? We started working with the kids and grandkids when they turned 2. Parents have to take some responsibility for their children.
My children and now my grandchildren are all advanced for their age, none had head start. 3 of the 7 grandchildren did go to pre k classes, which are not free and the parents gladly paid for.
More power to you, and God Bless
There is absolutely no "hope" of any Obama supporter believing what is right in front of their eyes......some of us got smarter and didn't vote for him the 2nd time.
I gave him his chance.
And now I am off to bed, I have a busy day with the grandkids tomorrow.
Then there were those who say through his BS and didn't vote for him the first time around.
Momma Dukes...
Enjoy your grandkids..hug them and love them
More bold face lies from the 0 administration. The cuts are to increases, not the mainstay of the budget--so nothing will be affected. People should demand a threshold of 5% for combined state and federal tax burdens. That is what set the Bostonians off to dump tea in the harbor and spawned the Nation: the King raised taxes to 5%.
What's fair is fair. Besides its not like the fed.gov was prudent with taxpayer money, so they should be horsewhipped with a 5% maximum AND have to share that with the states. Those who signed bills to borrow money should have to repay it themselves, just like the proletariat. ©2013
Good thank God. Majority of these teachers are liberal nut jobs indoctorinating our children. I would rather send my kid to a private school because i am not a democrat bum, i actually work and can afford it.
Brian,
I guess you think a feudal system and child labor should be in place again. I don't resort to name calling very often but occasionally a comment really sticks out. You're a moron. If you think that having a decent meal and some education for four and five year old children are a bad idea, then you're worse than stupid, you are evil! All sorts of studies have proven that head start is a great program in poor of rural communities and creates a positive attitude about education.
Yea, you're the kinda person I would physically fight. You represent the worst of the worst - an attitude of "I take care of me and mine, screw everyone else".
Disgusting.............
Frisby I'm a Liberal and I would sooner send 60 million to the Syrian radical Muslims, because Obama said so
Who cares if we lay off teachers and food inspectors!!??? ...as long as we maintain the vast increases in food stamps and lower restrictions to get welfare, we will be fine!!
At least YOU will be, to hell with everyone else, right?
One of the ten most evil things in America is the Teacher's Union. 88% of our town budget goes to the school district. The teacher's union demands such things a healthcare for "life", raises that are usually 3% above inflation, and paid days off for "personal development." So the good teachers coming out of college can't make in roads into the school system becasue of tenure. And forget pay for performance. The union doesn't want to hear it. So please, lets lay off all the teachers. I hope their unemployment runs out and they starve. Boy, did that feel good.
Oh, I thought they were talking about real teachers with actual teaching degrees.
The Democrap party should be renamed the "Chicken Little" party because to them the sky is always falling.
85 billion is a drop in the bucket to the government but it still means something to us. We balance our checkbook why shouldn't the government?
Washington (CNN) - As the deadline for forced federal spending cuts closes fast, new polling indicates that as of now President Barack Obama has the upper hand over congressional Republicans in the political battle over where blame will fall if the cuts are triggered.
According to an ABC News/Washington Post poll released Wednesday morning, two-thirds of the public disapprove of how congressional Republicans are handling the issue of federal spending, with only 26% giving them a thumbs-up.
And if no deal is reached by Friday and the forced spending cuts, known inside the Beltway as the sequester, start taking affect this weekend, more fingers will be pointed at GOP lawmakers. Forty-five percent of those questioned in a Pew Research Center/Washington Post survey released earlier this week said congressional Republicans should take more blame.
Here's another way to illustrate the point: An NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll from Tuesday indicates that Americans are divided over whether Obama is emphasizing unifying the country or taking a partisan approach. But by a 3-1 margin, they say that congressional Republicans are putting partisanship over unity, according to the survey.
It looks like this could turn into a "lose-lose" scenario for both sides, although the Republicans appear to have more to lose than Obama," CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said. "It's likely that the GOP will get most of the blame if the forced spending cuts actually take effect.
While Democrats are overwhelmingly united in their support of how the president's handling the federal spending, the ABC/Washington Post poll indicates that Republicans are divided (44%-51%) on how GOP lawmakers are dealing with the issue.
A 1,000 person poll with 300 cell phone users. The probably polled 1,000 people standing in the unemployment line in Philadelphia. Every intelligent tax paying American knows we have a spending problem. Its not in any Democrat's DNA to cut anything other than Defense.
...gotta get your facts straight, pup, or you and the white house lose credibility.
-Ideological purity
-Compromise as weakness
-A fundamentalist belief in scriptural literalism
-Denying science
-Unmoved by facts
-Undeterred by new information
-Severe xenophobia
-Tribal mentality
-Intolerance of dissent
-Pathological hatred of the US government
We know how we got here and we know who is the problem. GOP/TP!!!
Well said. Let me add this:
The Republican-Tea Party-Right Wing Cartel is the "Party of NO!" and massive voting fraud and suppression; trying to replace public education with “Christian” schools, etc. More accurately, the "TURD BLOSSOM PARTY" is the sole cause of crippling our Democracy and economy and endangering our national security. The "Party of Fraud and Corruption" will be removed from power....
What a load of crap. Show me proof of this massive voting fraud and suppression or is that the buzz words of the day taken from the Liberal talking points. Maybe you need to stop watching MSNBC or CNN.
I'm sorry -- an Obama Administration official caught exaggerating? That can't be true! That is just about as believable as them denying the sequester started with them, but then changing their statement! Or threatening the reporter that layed out the facts!!
Feisty, Pigotry, Alaska Girl! (have I left out any of you paid trolls?) Please straighten this mess out!
The story-line right above this states "60 Million sent directly to Syria". So the president will let our schools close but will send $60,000,000.00 to Syria where by the way they HATE Americans. Can anyone explain this? That last question was rhetorical.
These are true numbers straight from the WH. I can see a great place for cuts. Obama is a liar plain and simple. Actually they are all liars and cheats we need to take a stand.
Fiscal year 2008: $19.216 billion
Fiscal year 2009: $20.294 billion
Fiscal year 2010: $25.445 billion
Fiscal year 2011: $22.924 billion
Fiscal year 2012 (estimated): $23.292 billion
Fiscal year 2013 (proposed): $23.709 billion
The sequester is a cut to the increase in spending scheduled for this year. If it goes into full effect, the government will still be spending $15 billion more than last year.
Head Start is a traditional failed program that Obama wants to spread into a national failure. The best things for helping young kids prepare for school are educated, concerned parents who set a good example. Single, teenage welfare moms are just delivering the next generation of crack heads and more welfare moms. Excellent.
So Procrustes,
We should punish the children, right? Just starve them, right? Where is the root of these problems? Where is the intelligent discussion of solving these issues? In your teensy little brain ALL non-military programs are bad, everything else should be cut. SO, should we cut homeland security (bloated beyond all measure), defense (the same), scientific and medical research, etc.
This is such an inexpensive line item that it hardly registers.
You want to have an intelligent discussion concerning our fiscal problems please read the Time article "Bitter Pill". That's where a HUGE chunk of our money goes.
No insults are necessary. Try to have some class. Where did I say that, "ALL non-military programs are bad."? Studies on Head Start reveal that little is gained from the program. Clue in--spending is still going up with the sequester.
I guess the old adage is true: Want to anger a conservative? Lie to him. Want to anger a liberal? Tell him the truth.