Congressman: Sequestration is 'photo op' orchestrated by Obama - WFLA-TV News Channel 8

The clock is ticking when $85 billion in cuts will take effect after the stroke of midnight.

Just about everyone will soon feel the effects, with cuts to education, defense, and healthcare.

Two congressmen told Newschannel 8 that they feel cuts are necessary.

Florida congressman Vern Buchanan brought along Pennsylvania congressman Bill Shuster on a sightseeing tour.

Shuster is the chairman of the House Transportation Committee, and the pair spent time at Port Manatee. The port is expanding, potentially leading to thousands of new jobs.

The two are obviously not in Washington with the sequester just hours away, but the congressmen feel they're making more of an impact here, as they explore ways to grow the economy.

Shuster said, "That's nothing more than a photo opportunity going on at the White House that the president is orchestrating! And I guarantee what's gonna come out of that- he's going to blame Republicans and he's going to blame House Republicans."

$85 billion in budget cuts are slated to take effect- and Buchanan said cuts are needed.

Buchanan said, "Families and small businesses and every business in this region that I know of, most of them have had to make a lot more than a 2% cut and that's what we're really talking about."

These cuts could impact a myriad of government agencies, and could lead to some frustrations.

The FAA has said sequestration could lead to long flight delays at airports. But Congressman Shuster says those claims are full of hot air.

Shuster said, "It's a scare tactic, and I think it's wrong the president is doing that, instead of looking at his bureaucracies and saying 'find a way to cut the money."

The congressmen said they were willing to be in Washington if they felt a need to be there but regardless, they'll be back to DC on Monday to discuss the current debt crisis.