While doctors and nurses are hard at work in her ER, the chief operating officer at Norwegian American Hospital reflects the “How does it help the patient?” sign on her desk– and knows what’s happening in Washington is putting health care at hospitals like this one at grave risk.
Cong. Bill Foster (D) 11th said “There’s a large number of things including a lot of the safety net programs that we’re going to be talking about today that simply shouldn’t be attacked. They’re already under stress because of the economic downtown, and now is not the time to cut them.”
Likewise federal workers, air traffic controllers and travelers at O’Hare worry about long lines getting much longer.
“Because the lines are long enough and the guys have got to do their job properly– so why are they being cut back?”
In large part because of partisan bickering—republicans took a beating here in Illinois Friday, accused of holding this whole thing up.
Cong. Jan Schakowsky (D) 9th said “It’s hard to see the way out– they have got to give up on this protection of every penny of wealth for individuals and wealthy corporations.”
Who’s to blame doesn’t matter much around here. At hospitals like Norwegian American, administrators are too busy worrying about the impact on their patients, and warn that medical treatment lost to the sequester, only gets more expensive down the road.
7 Comments to “Sequester to affect local hospitals, airports”
March 1, 2013 at 7:10 PM
Democrats & republican & pres. close the hospitals the airports ,close all the schools close all the government office Yes while your at it close Wal Mart . Take air force one away from the Kid , that would save lot & lot's of money .
March 1, 2013 at 9:27 PM
How about the President cut those vacations to Hawaii and golf trips to Florida.
March 1, 2013 at 11:15 PM
Harry – -ALL the Presidents take LOTS of vacations…How often was Bush, Jr. in Texas? They are all the same…
March 1, 2013 at 10:17 PM
I say shut the government down. They are the ones causing all this grief. Maybe they should cut their paychecks to save this budget. They arent worth what they get paid AT ALL!!!
March 1, 2013 at 11:14 PM
Agreed! They are on vacation -when they aren't on vacation. It must be nice to get paid big $$, have all the 'perks' paid for (staff, insurance, cars. etc) and then DO NOTHING! BUT! It's up to us to vote these folks out – hope for someone better – and put in term limits. My thought is 2 terms -TOPS! If you can't get it done then -you aren't going to. And how about age limits? Some of these a/holes are in their 80's!
March 2, 2013 at 3:43 AM
Looks like the WH wrote this article in another attempt to scare the public.
March 2, 2013 at 10:33 AM
It's time to put American tax payer express card away and balance the budget.