Political Bickering Leads to Sequester Cuts

March 1, 2013 Updated Mar 1, 2013 at 7:30 PM PDT

No one in Washington actually wanted these cuts, but Congressman Jim Costa says they're happening... because of political bickering.

"The finger pointing and the blame game has got to stop."

Diehard democrats and republicans in Washington bet it would never happen.

With all the bickering in DC, a safer bet might've been that it would.

And now, sequestration kicks in at midnight.

President Obama: "It's happening because a choice that Republicans in Congress have made... But people are gonna be hurt!"

But republicans held their ground... Refusing the president's effort to raise taxes on the rich.

Rep. John Boehner, (R) House Speaker: "The discussion about revenue in my view is over. It's about taking on the spending problem here in Washington."

Here area a few things central valley lawmakers are bracing themselves for...

165 kids would be cut off from local head start programs, with layoffs of about 30 employees.

Fresno Unified could face about $5 million in title-one cuts.

Fire departments would be hiring less firefighters will be hired.

Also, valley law enforcement gets a million dollars less in grant money, making it even harder to maintain staffing levels.

Fresno County Board Chairman Henry Perea says the county doesn't yet know how much it will have to cut, but he knows where.

"We know it's going to impact mental health, we know it'll hurt our social service department, and public safety."

The military could also take a hit...

Funding to Fresno's 144th Fighter Wing could see reductions... to the tune of $11 million.

But House Republicans say they've got a resolution coming next week that could give the military some flexibility.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy, (R) Bakersfield: "I sat down with generals and admirals just last week and they look forward to the changes in the DOD and others if we can pass them."

Congressman Costa says while the sequester deadline is already upon us, there's still time for Washington work out a deal...

If they can just get past the bickering.

"This is no way to run government. A cycle of chaos must stop."

The President says the longer these across the board cuts go on, the greater the impact...

And it looks like they could last for months.

Congressman Costa says working out a deal is now even more urgent, considering the nation's debt ceiling is expected to hit in June.