Briefs: Garamendi blasts House GOP

US Rep. John Garamendi blasted the Republican leadership in the House on Friday, saying its failure to dealing with pending sequestration will have a highly negative effect on military installations like Beale Air Force Base.

"Targeted focused cuts are appropriate and necessary, but they must be thoughtful and must avoid needless harm to our communities or our security," Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove, said in a release. "I hope that Speaker Boehner will allow a vote for an alternative to cliff jumping."

Sequestration refers to automatic federal budget cuts set to go into effect on March 1 absent any other action by Congress. According to figures from Garamendi's office, the cuts could result in as many as 1,400 civilian employees at Beale being temporarily furloughed, and deferring or canceling $1.3 million worth of projects at the base.