Gov. Patrick to speak against budget cuts

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Congress returns from a recess on Monday and lawmakers have to work quickly if they want to avoid automatic funding cuts.

"Sequestration" has been a buzz word across the nation last couple of weeks.

It's a fancy word for across-the-board funding cuts for government agencies and programs.

Here in Western Mass. for example, a pre-school program called Head Start faces severe cuts if Congress doesn't act to avoid the Sequester by March 1st.

So today, Governor Deval Patrick will speak on national television against those funding cuts.

He will join other governors on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday to talk about the impacts of the funding cuts.

The biggest impact we are looking at is widespread economic fallout.

But besides that nationwide impact, you could feel the impact of the cuts in your every day lives.

Head Start in Massachusetts will lose $9 million in funding, which means Holyoke Chicopee Springfield Head Start will lose money.

College students won't be able to receive as much in grants or work-study.

If the meat industry has to shut down for 15 days, meat prices will go up.

National parks will have reduced services.

And unemployment benefits will be cut.

Congress has until March 1st to find a solution.

If they do not find a solution in time, the cuts will take effect automatically.

Meet the Press airs 11 A.M. Sunday morning right here on 22News.