What Sequester Means in the Real World

How domestic program cuts could affect ordinary Americans.

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How Did We Get Here? - Going back to 2011, congressional Republicans wanted spending cuts in exchange for raising the debt ceiling. They couldn't agree and hoped they'd make a deal by 2013, and if they didn't, automatic cuts would go into effect. Well, here we are and cuts are a'coming. Click through to see how those cuts could affect you.(Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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On the Block - We keep hearing the terms daily, "sequester" "automatic budget cuts" "shutdown," but what does that mean in the real world? A poll from the political newspaper The Hill found that two-thirds of Americans don't know what sequester means. Webster would define sequester as $85 billion in spending cuts that would hit most federal programs and fall hardest on the military and take effect March 1. — Joyce Jones (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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