Sequestration cuts to impact 1,800 jobs in McAlester, Sen. Inhofe has a bill that could help

MCALESTER, Okla. - The sequestration cuts are expected to impact jobs and services all over the United States.

In Green County, one big employer could pass those cuts on to employees by slashing salaries very soon.

The McAlester Army Ammunition Plant is the largest in America and many consider it the backbone of McAlester. Almost 1,800 jobs could be affected by the sequestration cuts.

Officials at the plant say furloughs and salary cuts could be in store for plant workers, like Cynthia Basolo, who has worked there for more than 18 years.

"My husband and I both work out there," said Basolo.

She says she and her husband are already looking for ways to cut costs ahead of a possible salary cut that would accompany the furloughs.

"We used to not ride to work together, so we're going to have to start riding to work together, just kind of sacrifice a few more minutes of time, just little things," said Basolo.

She says in McAlester just about everyone has a friend or relative employed at the ammunition plant.

"I think everyone's going to see it. It's not just the people who work at the ammunition plant, it's going to be everybody," said Basolo.

Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla) made a stop in McAlester Thursday to talk about the coming cuts.

"I wanted to make sure that they had the assurance they we are doing everything we can," said Inhofe.

Inhofe is the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He says he wants to ensure these cuts do not impact national security.

He has a bill in the works that could be heard as early as Tuesday.

"Instead of Obama with his formula of deciding where all the cuts are going to be, it will be made on the military's side by the military," said Inhofe.

He says with his bill the dollar amount cut will stay the same, but the agencies on the chopping block will get to decide what goes.

"In Oklahoma we have 27,000 who would be subjected to furlough, I would suggest that probably that isn't going to happen, certainly not if this passes," said Inhofe.

Which gives people like Cynthia Basolo a little hope.

"You have to have hope you know, but you also have to prepare for what might or might not be," said Basolo.

Officials at the ammo plant say they expect to learn more about when the cuts could impact employees there by next week.