Federal food inspectors won't be forced to take furloughs after lobbyists stepped in. (Source: CNN)(CNN) - One group of federal workers won't be forced to take unpaid days off - after big business stepped in on their behalf.
Lobbyists from the meat and poultry industries reportedly convinced lawmakers to exempt food safety and inspections workers from mandatory furloughs.
They had been scheduled to take 11 days off without pay, as part of the forced spending cuts that took effect March 1.
Industry insiders said those furloughs would cause a complete shutdown of meat and poultry packing plants and lead to price spikes at the grocery store.
The money to cover the meat workers will reportedly come from a funding shift, not from new spending.
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