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Budget Cuts To Hit Fort Hood


Friday, after weeks of inaction from congress, forced spending cuts will take effect.

The cuts will affect everything from travel time to meals on wheels to education and one of the hardest hit areas -- our military.

Congressmen John Carter and Roger Williams claim sequestration will cut $291,000,000 from fort hood's budget.  That includes drastic cuts to military training if congress fails to act fast.

Eduardo Marquez has been serving the men and women of the military for the past 5-years.

"I got regular customers.  They come like twice a day," said Marquez.

Today, the cafeteria chatter at Mercado Azteca centers on budget cuts at fort hood.

"We do not want to send one single soldier in harm's way without training," said Carter.

Military training is expected to take a hard hit.  According to Carter, automatic budget cuts will reduce the army's budget by $12,000,000,000.  Fort Hood could see its budget slashed by $291,000,000.

"We have a leadership problem in this county," said Williams.

Carter and Williams are drafting an appropriations bill which -- if passed -- would allow the military to move its money around to where it's needed most -- like training.

"The cuts would still go forward but in such a way that it wouldn't hurt our fighting men and women," added Carter.

Marquez hopes so.

"Obviously I want the best for them," said Marquez.

After all, these men and women are more than just his customers.

"They're really good friends," he added.

Carter says Congress has until March 27th to pass the appropriations bill in order to prevent those deep cuts.  But the president could veto that bill.

By Alex Boyer