Philly Mayor: Federal Cuts Hurt Local Governments

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia's mayor says automatic federal spending cuts that kicked in March 1 have seriously hurt city and local governments.

Mayor Michael Nutter is the immediate past president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. He says the cuts known collectively as the sequester have transferred costs onto local governments, hindering their ability to pay for basic services. He says there needs to be "a serious conversation about who gets to sit at the federal budget table."

The second-term Democrat spoke Tuesday during a meeting of the State Budget Crisis Task Force at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. The event is designed to bring attention to the eroding financial condition of state governments.

Former President Bill Clinton will give the keynote address later Tuesday.