ARKLAMISS -- The clock is ticking to get a deal done and avoid a series of automatic cuts -- called the "Sequester."
The White House says those cuts threatens hundreds of thousands of middle class jobs, and cuts vital services for children, seniors, people with mental illness, and those in uniform.
Military will bear the brunt of the cuts in Louisiana if a deal isn't made by Friday, services in health and education could also take a big hit.
Representative Rodney Alexander tells KTVE-KARD that this is bad news because the state is heavily dependent on federal money for health care and education.
"We won't feel the impact as much in Northeast Louisiana from the military as we will education and health care," he said during a phone interview. "We're heavily dependent on medicaid; Headstart is a big deal. When they receive fewer federal money well they will have to start tightening their belts."
Reports say $16 million could be lost in funding of primary and secondary education in Louisiana.
"It's just a tough time still," said Dr. Bob Webber, superintendent of Ouachita Parish Schools. "We cut back 150 or so jobs this past year, because of the budget and we hope we don't have to do that again."
The millions lost in state education puts around 220 teacher and aide jobs at risk.
"That could translate to as many as 26,000 students being affected in some way by sequestration," said ULM economics professor Robert Eisenstadt
Approximately 50 fewer schools would receive funding. Early education services like Head Start would be eliminated for approximately 1,400 children in Louisiana.
"I know it's tough everywhere in Louisiana. It's made us have larger classes and things like that, we don't like to do," said Webber.
Eisenstadt said if the cuts go into effect this Friday, the impact from person to person depends on how much they rely on assistance programs.
"Where we will see the effects locally will be spelled out more by the degree to which we have a very high concentration of poverty within our area," he said.
He says assistance programs like those involving health, childcare, job search, and nutrition will be affected.
"Public health could be affected - vaccinations. The availability of vaccines for our children," said Eisenstadt.
Monroe is even on the list of air traffic control facilities to be closed, with Monroe Regional Airport's tower being targeted for possible closure.
Eisenstadt and Alexander say they feel like the cuts could actually happen.
"I think the train's probably kind of sort of left the station by now, and it's gonna be a little hard to reverse it," said Eisenstadt.
Experts say there could be compromise legislation in the next few months to help mitigate the losses.
So far, there is no reported deal or any talks underway in Congress as of Monday evening.
The White House put out a state by state impact report on the cuts over the weekend. Click here to read it.
The White House says those cuts threatens hundreds of thousands of middle class jobs, and cuts vital services for children, seniors, people with mental illness, and those in uniform.
Military will bear the brunt of the cuts in Louisiana if a deal isn't made by Friday, services in health and education could also take a big hit.
Representative Rodney Alexander tells KTVE-KARD that this is bad news because the state is heavily dependent on federal money for health care and education.
"We won't feel the impact as much in Northeast Louisiana from the military as we will education and health care," he said during a phone interview. "We're heavily dependent on medicaid; Headstart is a big deal. When they receive fewer federal money well they will have to start tightening their belts."
Reports say $16 million could be lost in funding of primary and secondary education in Louisiana.
"It's just a tough time still," said Dr. Bob Webber, superintendent of Ouachita Parish Schools. "We cut back 150 or so jobs this past year, because of the budget and we hope we don't have to do that again."
The millions lost in state education puts around 220 teacher and aide jobs at risk.
"That could translate to as many as 26,000 students being affected in some way by sequestration," said ULM economics professor Robert Eisenstadt
Approximately 50 fewer schools would receive funding. Early education services like Head Start would be eliminated for approximately 1,400 children in Louisiana.
"I know it's tough everywhere in Louisiana. It's made us have larger classes and things like that, we don't like to do," said Webber.
Eisenstadt said if the cuts go into effect this Friday, the impact from person to person depends on how much they rely on assistance programs.
"Where we will see the effects locally will be spelled out more by the degree to which we have a very high concentration of poverty within our area," he said.
He says assistance programs like those involving health, childcare, job search, and nutrition will be affected.
"Public health could be affected - vaccinations. The availability of vaccines for our children," said Eisenstadt.
Monroe is even on the list of air traffic control facilities to be closed, with Monroe Regional Airport's tower being targeted for possible closure.
Eisenstadt and Alexander say they feel like the cuts could actually happen.
"I think the train's probably kind of sort of left the station by now, and it's gonna be a little hard to reverse it," said Eisenstadt.
Experts say there could be compromise legislation in the next few months to help mitigate the losses.
So far, there is no reported deal or any talks underway in Congress as of Monday evening.
The White House put out a state by state impact report on the cuts over the weekend. Click here to read it.
