federal budget cuts

Some federal employees in Michigan face snow, wind to protest sequestration

Lindsey Smith — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 21:11:37 +0000

A number of federal employees took part in protests in six Michigan cities Wednesday afternoon. The events were part of a national campaign opposing sequestration, the automatic spending cuts to the federal budget that are already taking effect.

Kyle Austin has been working at the social security administration in Grand Rapids for 35 years. He admits, not everyone knows or necessarily seems to care about sequestration.

“It worries me because we’re the front line people. We see these people. Congress doesn’t,” Austin said.

Stateside: Per capita income increases in Michigan, still below national average

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 21:34:50 +0000

A new report from the United States Commerce Department found that economic recovery is occurring in Michigan. According to the survey, per capita personal income rose in nearly every Michigan county last year.

Charley Ballard, Michigan State University Professor of Economics explained that although improving, Michigan’s economy still has further to go.

Ballard began by defining the factors of per capita income.

“It’s their wages and salaries. It also included dividends and social security. It doesn’t include Medicare. They add up all of the income of all the people in Michigan and then divide by the number of people,” said Ballard.

Though improved, Michigan is still well below the national average of per capita income.

Traverse City may lose its federal courthouse

The Associated Press and Steve Carmody — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 23:01:01 +0000

The federal courthouse in Traverse City is on a list of 60 nationwide that may face closure.

The federal government is considering closing up to 60 courthouse across the country as part of an effort to cut costs.

Documents obtained by The Associated Press show federal courthouses facilities in 29 states could be on the chopping block. Many of the court sites are in rural areas and critics say closing them could make it more difficult for people to get to court proceedings.