Opinion

Numbers don’t add up in sequester cuts

Posted May 22, 2013 5:00 am

So Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has announced 688,000 furloughs of 11 days this year due to the sequester, just like the private sector has been doing for years. Total sequester effect this year has been determined to be around $80 billion. Doing Mr. Hagel’s math at minimum wage $8.25 per hour (minimum wage that I am sure all of his employees are making ... not), his cuts will result in federal budget reductions of: 688,000 employees X 8 hours per day X $8.25 = $45 billion.

Do any of you math students see a problem with this announcement?

If you were to double the $8.25 per hour including benefits, you are still giving him the benefit of the doubt (now $90 billion — do you see where I am going?). Is Uncle Chuck the only contributor to this spending cuts? Can we find more generous helpers? Let’s all get smart! Let’s learn basic math and then let’s cut some more!

Brian Murphy

Des Plaines

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