Senator Manchin Addresses West Virginia's Looming Budget Cuts

Senator Manchin says he will be fighting for programs in areas of need that are facing cut-backs, like, Head Start or Extension Meals on Wheels.

"Some of our senior programs that people are really just getting by with, and you cut those another five, ten percent, there's just nothing left. People will have to do without and that's ridiculous," says Senator Joe Manchin, (D) West Virginia.

Degree programs at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College are expanding, but expect less funds come summer-time.

"We're definitely growing and with growth there shouldn't be cuts," says Marvin Brining, Chef Instructor with the Culinary Arts Program at Blue Ridge CTC.

Yet despite looming cuts, Veterans' programs like "I Hire Veterans" is growing. Manchin says USPS hired 11,000 Veterans just last year.

"We have a Republican and Cemocrat Congressmen who've taken it up in the House side, so it's bipartisan and bicameral. It's the only thing I know of in this town, in Washington D.C., that has all this moving in the right direction and politics does not play a part," says Senator Manchin.

And VA medical services will not be affected by sequestration, as directors say it's evolving into more internet-based preventive care.

"The lion's share of users of the electronic personal health record are Veterans between the ages of 40 and 65," says Fernando Rivera, Network Director with VISN 5.

"This is a great country, the United States of America, and people need to appreciate that. We can help an awful lot of people. We've got to get ourselves strong again," reaffirms Senator Manchin.

Just like that program, "I Hire Veterans," Senator Manchin is hopeful there could be bipartisan effort to help reduce those looming spending cuts.