South Dakota's lawmakers are responding to the looming deadline of sequestration. Senator Tim Johnson, the state's lone democrat in Washington is expressing his frustration.
A statement released today reads in part "I voted against the convoluted republican plan that would ask the president to make the same level of cuts as the sequester without raising a single penny of revenue.... Their proposal is simply a shell game that will still hurt national security, education, and infrastructure investment."
South Dakota's republican senator and representative are frustrated as well. They say the cuts may affect the well-being and safety of many across the state.
Congresswoman Kristi Noem recognizes health care providers in our state are already just getting by, trying to make ends meet.
"The longer that happens, the more in jeopardy we put these providers that deliver care on shaky ground. so employees i'm sure are concerned. I'm sure the people who rely on these institutions for their healthcare needs are concerned," Congresswoman Noem said.
Senator John Thune believes we're not looking at the real problem in Washington.
We all know the issue that faces Washington right now is. the big challenge we have is that Washington spends too much, we don't have a revenue problem, we've got plenty of revenue. it's not that we tax too little, it's that we spend too much," Senator Thune said.
Thune said the republicans have a few ideas on how to spend.
"We would replace the spending cuts in the sequester with what we believe are more responsible spending cuts," Senator Thune said.
And Noem is concerned about making sure seniors and those who are less fortunate have access to the healthcare they need.
"The cuts that the hospitals and providers are looking at, is about a 2-percent cut in reimbursement so that is significant, especially when you have the challenges of serving a rural state like we do," Congresswoman Noem said.
With six hours to go until sequestration, the budget cuts could affect our own health or the well-being of those we know and love.
