By Bryan Rourke
Federal funding cuts loom. And they're severe and nationwide, the White House announced Sunday afternoon.
In a lengthy and detailed news release, the White House outlined what the automatic federal funding cuts, called the sequester, would mean for the country and for each of the states.
In Rhode Island, more than $17 million of worth of cuts would go into effect Friday unless Congress agrees on a plan to reduce the deficit to avoid them. If the sequester happens, the White House said, it would be "a self-inflicted wound."
The damage that would be done in Rhode Island, according to the White House, would be extensive, affecting schools, the environment, senior-citizens programs, law enforcement and public health.