Time For Some GOP Action: Looming Sequestration Cuts Damaging To Arkansas

The Democratic Party of Arkansas held a conference call today for the press roasting Arkansas’ Republican Congressmen for voting to take this week off while the possibility of sequestration cuts looms over the federal budget.

The DPA noted in their press releases that Arkansas’s Republican Congressmen (Tom Cotton, Tim Griffin and Rick Crawford) decided to take a “personal spring”‘ break instead of tackling the potential budget cuts that would harm Arkansas’s seniors, veterans and middle-class.

Charles Cervantes, a Vietnam Vet from Little Rock, said on today’s call:

“I was appalled to learn that Congressmen Crawford, Griffin and Cotton all decided to skip town and stop working – leaving Washington instead of working to stop the self-inflicted, draconian cuts known as the sequester from taking effect. As a veteran, I am especially concerned about the military and defense related cuts, which would have devastating implications for both our national security and Arkansas’s economy.”

I noted in a column last week that Congressman Tim Griffin has often spoken out against sequestration, even calling it “Obamaquester”. Of course, Griffin voted for it – an inconvenient fact.

We can spend time fixing blame on who created sequestration in the first place, Congress or Obama, or we can spend time fixing the problems the harmful budget cuts would create if sequestration is allowed to happen.

It seems Arkansas’s Republican Congressmen would rather blame-shift than problem solve.

Below is list from the DPA on how these budget cuts would hurt Arkansans and cost us jobs.

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BACKGROUND – THE EFFECTS OF THE SEQUESTER ON ARKANSAS:

Jobs and Economy.

Arkansans Could Lose Over 9,149 Jobs. A 2012 George Mason University study estimated that Arkansas stood to lose 9,149 jobs in 2012 and 2013 from sequestration cuts (excluding cuts to entitlement programs).

Arkansas’s Small Businesses Could Lose Over 4,000 Jobs. A 2012 George Mason University study estimated that Arkansas’s small businesses could lose 4,027 jobs in 2012 and 2013 from sequestration cuts.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: Millions at Stake for State in ‘Cliff’. “Automatic federal spending cuts scheduled to take place in January would result in Arkansas losing $54.9 million in funding for a variety of programs, state officials said this week. Among the possible reductions if Washington doesn’t avert the ‘fiscal cliff’ are financial aid for college students, heating assistance for poor Arkansans and child-care subsidies for lower-income families […] Also, they predict that the sharp budget cuts will snuff out the nation’s weak economic recovery. Typically, that would mean higher unemployment, more demand for social services and less state revenue at a time when it is needed the most.”

Source: The Economic Impact of the Budget Control Act of 2011, 7/17/12; The Economic Impact of Sequestration on Small Business, 9/20/12; Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 11/23/12

Defense

Arkansas Could Lose 3,600 Jobs Because of Defense Related Cuts. A 2012 George Mason University study estimated that Arkansans could lose 3,601 jobs because of defense related sequestration cuts. [The Economic Impact of the Budget Control Act of 2011, 7/17/12]

Defense Secretary Panetta Ordered Preemptive Cuts at Little Rock Air Force Base in Preparation for Sequestration. “Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta has ordered sweeping operational cuts at all active-duty bases that will reduce flying time and freeze building maintenance, new contracts, equipment purchases and civilian hiring at Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville […] Pilot training is one area that would be severely affected, Panetta said. The 314th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base trains all C-130 crews in the nation and 44 allied countries.” [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 1/12/13]

Air Force Undersecretary: Sequestration Will be “Dangerous.” “Officials from the Air Force on Thursday laid out a grim picture of what the remainder of 2013 might look like, saying the service will have to slash $12.4 billion out of its budget this year unless a deadlocked Congress reaches a deal to avert sequestration in the next few weeks. ‘They’re going to be dangerous,’ Jamie Morin, acting undersecretary of the Air Force, said of the sequestration cuts.” [Stars and Stripes, 2/07/13]

All Areas of Air Education and Training Could be Impacted by Sequestration. “Cuts to flying and technical training, Professional Military Education and recruiting are some of the actions the Air Education and Training Command will take if budget sequestration goes into effect March 1 […] AETC officials have already implemented near-term measures, such as limiting travel and supplies, hiring restrictions, and curtailing non-readiness flying, to help reduce spending and mitigate budget risks […] All areas within AETC could be impacted by sequestration. There will be substantial cuts to funding for national advertising for recruiting and commissioning programs such as ROTC. Professional Military Education and Readiness training quotas will be reduced. Advanced pilot and instructor training course will be curtailed beginning April 1 in order to protect initial flying training, which is expected to stand down in late August or early September.” [Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs, 2/08/13]

Over 1,000 Civilian Air Force Employees Could Lose Millions in Wages. Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee estimated that Department of Defense furloughs of civilian employees would impact 1,102 civilian Air Force Personnel in Arkansas. Those impacted would lose over $8.5 million in wages. [Report on Sequestration by House Appropriations Committee Democrats, 2/13/13]

Seniors

Cuts to Medicare Payments Could Top $16 Billion in 2021. A 2012 study ordered by the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association and the American Nurses Association estimated that sequestration cuts to Medicare payments to healthcare providers could be $10.7 billion in 2013 and reach $16.4 billion by 2021.

Arkansans Healthcare Industry Could Lose Over 8,700 Jobs Due to Medicare Cuts. A 2012 study ordered by the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association and the American Nurses Association estimated that sequestration cuts to Medicare payments to healthcare providers could result in 8,761 jobs lost in Arkansas by 2012. Nationwide, hospitals could cut 144,006 jobs while nursing and residential care facilities could cut 63,956 jobs.

Source: The Negative Employment Impacts of the Medicare Cuts in the Budget Control Act, September 2012 (available here)

Education

Almost 14,000 Arkansas Kids Could Lose Title 1 Funding. The National Education Association estimated that 13,900 Arkansas students could be affected by $7.9 million in sequestration cuts to Title 1 funding.

Over 500 Arkansas Kids Could Lose Head Start Funding. The National Education Association estimated that 545 Arkansas kids could be affected by $3.8 million in sequestration cuts to Head Start.

Over 2,600 Arkansas Kids with Special Needs Could Lose Funding. The National Education Association estimated that 2,635 Arkansas students with special needs could be affected $5.7 million in sequestration cuts to IDEA Special Education Grants to States.

Almost 700 Arkansas Kids Could Lose Preschool Grants. The National Education Association estimated that 680 Arkansas kids could be impacted by $268,000 in sequestration cuts to preschool grants.

Arkansas Families Could Lose $1.5 Million in Child Care Assistance. Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee estimated that low-income working Arkansas families could lose $1,500,733 in sequestration cuts to child care assistance through the child care and development block grant.

Over 5,000 Arkansas College Students Could be Impacted by Cuts to Work Study. The National Education Association estimated that 5,060 Arkansas college students could be impacted by $382,000 in sequestration cuts to Federal Work Study.

Arkansas Students Could Lose $310-$400 In Individual Pell Grants. The Arkansas Democrat Gazette reported that Arkansas Students could lose $310-$400 in individual Pell Grants. In the 2010-2011 school year, 85,779 Arkansas students received Pell Grants.

Source: National Education Association: Impact of Sequestration on Federal Education Programs, 2/05/13; Report on Sequestration by House Appropriations Committee Democrats, 2/13/13; Department of Education End of Year Report, 2010-2011; Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 11/23/12

Maternal and Child Health Programs.

7,700 Mothers and Young Children Could be Cut from the Supplemental Nutrition Program. The American Academy of Pediatrics estimated that 7,700 mothers and young children in Arkansas could be cut from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children if sequestration was implemented. WIC provides nutrition and breastfeeding education, nutritious foods, and improved healthcare and social service access for low and moderate-income women and children.

107,000 Women, Children and Families Could be Cut from Maternal and Child Health Services. The American Academy of Pediatrics estimated that $569,000 could be cut from the Arkansas Title V Maternal and Child Health Services block grant, resulting in 107,000 fewer Arkansas women, children and families served in the state if sequestration was implemented.

700 Fewer Arkansas Women Could be Screened for Breast and Cervical Cancer. The American Academy of Pediatrics estimated that $194,000 could be cut from the Breast and Cervical Cancer screening program, resulting in 700 fewer Arkansas women being screened for cancer if sequestration was implemented.

1,700 Fewer Arkansas Children Could Get Vaccinations. The American Academy of Pediatrics estimated that $128,000 could be cut from the Arkansas Immunization program, which could result in 1,700 fewer children getting vaccinations if sequestration was implemented. The program targets uninsured and low-income children.

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics, accessed 2/15/13

Agriculture

Governor Beebe Warned About Impact of Sequestration Cuts on Arkansas Farmers. “Gov. Mike Beebe on Wednesday told members of the Arkansas Farm Bureau he is worried about the possible impact of automatic cuts to the federal budget on Arkansas farmers […] ‘They have to cut spending in a rational way, not just in an irrational way across the board without regard to picking and choosing where they will. Because of what they were unable to do with their super committee, I fear today what’s going to happen to agriculture and to those support programs necessary,’ Beebe said.”

USDA, Rural Development and More Would Receive Sequestration Cuts. AgriPulse reported that “every USDA research and extension program, market development program, most conservation and rural development programs, the WIC program and the Special Milk Program” would receive sequestration cuts.

Source: Arkansas News Bureau, 11/30/11; AgriPulse, September 2012