Sequestration Frustration Hits Central Texas - kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen

The sequestration is hitting Central Texas pretty hard. We're seeing losses everywhere from jobs to education, right here in our own backyard. But some Central Texans are fighting back.

Government workers for Fort Hood are fighting a political battle. The sequester cuts will furlough their jobs and some workers, like Awilda smith, will be laid off.

"With all this downsize, they're going to let us go. The 29th of this month is my last day," said Smith.

So they're picketing at Fort Hood's main gate during their lunch breaks.

Cheryl Eliano, the President for American Federal Government Employees Local 1920, says government workers have already been on a two year pay freeze. she says the cuts need to stop. "20% of our salaries. How much more do we have to sacrifice without the rich paying their fair share?," she said.

And these workers aren't the only ones feeling these cuts. Military students have had their tuition assistance suspended. But that's just not going to happen at Central Texas College.

"We're going to keep on keeping the promise," said Dr. Thomas Klincar, Chancellor at Central Texas College.

CTC will continue giving tuition assistance to military students who are already enrolled in the program.

"We're going to call it a grant. We're just not going to charge these soldier students for this next course. That's how we're going to do it," said Dr. Klincar.    

But it's not that simple for these government workers, who blame congressmen, like Chairman John Carter.

Carter says Republicans already passed two bills to replace the sequestration. He blames the Democrats. "These protesters should be calling the White House and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to demand the Senate pass either of the House Replacement Bills," said Carter.

Smith is tired of games. "I wanna see some change and we wanna keep our jobs," she said. "Everybody wants to work because we have families to support."

She hopes the Government will think of people like her, before they cut anymore jobs.