Malloy: Budget ax to furloughed National Guard

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Gov. Dannel P. Malloy says automatic federal budget cuts set to take effect this week would result in the furlough of 576 National Guard personnel in Connecticut.

Malloy, a Democrat, sparred with former Republican Gov. Haley Barbour of Mississippi on CNN on Sunday. Malloy said Republicans who control the U.S. House of Representatives want to "beat up the middle class" in spending cuts to preserve military spending.

Barbour said Democrats who run the U.S. Senate have failed to propose an alternative spending plan.

Col. John Whitford, a spokesman for the Connecticut National Guard, said in an interview with The Associated Press that a furlough would affect administrative, maintenance and other National Guard technicians. It would not affect active Guard reserves.

The $85 billion in cuts are set to take effect Friday.