There are only five days left before forced federal spending cuts go into effect. As the clock ticks toward the march 1st deadline, the political blame game is heating up.

"I'm a republican. My audience is trying to persuade my former colleagues they need to come to the table with a proposal, which, frankly, they haven't done. The president has. The republicans haven't," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

On Saturday, the President made another plea for action. Warning of cuts in education, transportation, and the military that he says would only slow the economy. President Obama says the cuts don't have to happen the problem is republicans won't compromise.

"Are they seriously prepared to inflict more pain on the middle class because they refuse to ask anything more of those at the very top?" asked President Obama.

Louisiana's Republican Governor, Bobby Jindal called the administration's dire warnings, "political theatre."

"Families, businesses have had to tighten their belts and do more than less. We're talking less than 3%. We're talking about a federal budget that's still going to grow. Let's be clear about this, only in Washington, D.C. Is that a cut," said the Louisiana Governor.

Six weeks into his term as Virginia's senator, democrat Tim Kaine says Washington should go back to the basics.

"Let's get rid of the gimmicks, sequester, continuing resolution. Get back to ordinary budgeting, just like what happens in every state capitol every year," added the Democratic Governor for Virginia Tim Kaine.

Senate Democrats plan to vote on a measure this week to replace the cuts for another year, but with 85 billion dollars at stake, there is still no deal in sight.

The White House released a state by state report of the impact sequestration. You can view how Tennessee will be affected, here.Spending Cuts Blame Game