Economists say sequestration is not going to hit Hampton Roads as hard as they originally projected.
At first it was estimated 17,000 people would be laid off. Those numbers are down to 7,000 – but for those people, the reality is still harsh.
In one month's time, Mario Marasigan got two huge blows and it all started with getting laid off.
“How did they even make that decision? You know, what were the criteria of getting me terminated,” asks Mario.
Mario served our country for almost a decade, and then he gave nearly an additional two decades helping train our country's warfighters as a government contractor.
And as if losing your job isn't bad enough, Mario found out he would soon be fighting a whole new battle.
Apart from job hunting, Mario is fighting prostate cancer.
“That might preclude me from getting a job because the situation right now with health care people are not hiring people if it is going to cost them, they are not going to hire me, so that is a scary thing,” he says.
Plus, his health insurance is going to run out in three months. Then he'll have to pay for coverage on his own.
“To be abandoned because of sequestration, I feel like I have been betrayed and their loyalties are not with their people,” Mario says.
Surprisingly Mario is remaining optimistic and looking up for his strength.
“I know He has got a plan, He has got a plan for me, it is kind of like a glorious uncertainty,” he says.
