The White House released a report Sunday that lists the possible effects of the soon to be in force Sequester.
If you’re not sure what the “Sequester” is, an explanation can be found here.
From the report:
Impact of March 1st Cuts on Middle Class Families, Jobs and Economic Security: Indiana
Unless Congress acts by March 1st, a series of automatic cuts—called the sequester—will take effect that threaten hundreds of thousands of middle class jobs, and cut vital services for children, seniors, people with mental illness and our men and women in uniform.
There is no question that we need to cut the deficit, but the President believes it should be done in a balanced way that protects investments that the middle class relies on. Already, the President has worked with Congress to reduce the deficit by more than $2.5 trillion, but there’s more to do. The President has put forward a balanced plan to not only avoid the harmful effects of the sequester but also to reduce the deficit by more than $4 trillion in total. The President’s plan meets Republicans more than halfway and includes twice as many spending cuts as it does tax revenue from the wealthy. For details on the President’s plan click here.
Unfortunately, many Republicans in Congress refuse to ask the wealthy to pay a little more by closing tax loopholes so that we can protect investments that are helping grow our economy and keep our country safe. By not asking the wealthy to pay a little more, Republicans are forcing our children, seniors, troops, military families and the entire middle class to bear the burden of deficit reduction. The President is determined to cut spending and reduce the deficit in a balanced way, but he won’t stick the middle class with the bill. The President is willing to compromise, but on behalf the middle class he cannot accept a deal that undercuts their economic security.
Our economy is continuing to strengthen but we cannot afford a self-inflicted wound from Washington. Republicans should compromise and meet the President in the middle. We cannot simply cut our way to prosperity, and if Republicans continue to insist on an unreasonable, cuts-only approach, Indiana risks paying the price.
If sequestration were to take effect, some examples of the impacts on Indiana this year alone are:
- Teachers and Schools: Indiana will lose approximately $13.8 million in funding for primary and secondary education, putting around 190 teacher and aide jobs at risk. In addition about 12,000 fewer students would be served and approximately 50 fewer schools would receive funding.
- Education for Children with Disabilities: In addition, Indiana will lose approximately $12.4 million in funds for about 150 teachers, aides, and staff who help children with disabilities.
- Work-Study Jobs: Around 2,170 fewer low income students in Indiana would receive aid to help them finance the costs of college and around 1,020 fewer students will get work-study jobs that help them pay for college.
- Head Start: Head Start and Early Head Start services would be eliminated for approximately 1,000 children in Indiana, reducing access to critical early education.
- Protections for Clean Air and Clean Water: Indiana would lose about $3.3 million in environmental funding to ensure clean water and air quality, as well as prevent pollution from pesticides and hazardous waste. In addition, Indiana could lose another $739,000 in grants for fish and wildlife protection.
- Military Readiness: In Indiana, approximately 11,000 civilian Department of Defense employees would be furloughed, reducing gross pay by around $64.4 million in total.
- Army: Base operation funding would be cut by about $1.7 million in Indiana.
- Air Force: Funding for Air Force operations in Indiana would be cut by about $7 million.
- Navy: A scheduled Blue Angels shows in Indianapolis and Evansville could be canceled.
- Law Enforcement and Public Safety Funds for Crime Prevention and Prosecution: Indiana will lose about $262,000 in Justice Assistance Grants that support law enforcement, prosecution and courts, crime prevention and education, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, and crime victim and witness initiatives.
- Job Search Assistance to Help those in Indiana find Employment and Training: Indiana will lose about $683,000 in funding for job search assistance, referral, and placement, meaning around 24,290 fewer people will get the help and skills they need to find employment.
- Child Care: Up to 600 disadvantaged and vulnerable children could lose access to child care, which is also essential for working parents to hold down a job.
- Vaccines for Children: In Indiana around 2,770 fewer children will receive vaccines for diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, whooping cough, influenza, and Hepatitis B due to reduced funding for vaccinations of about $189,000.
- Public Health: Indiana will lose approximately $619,000 in funds to help upgrade its ability to respond to public health threats including infectious diseases, natural disasters, and biological, chemical, nuclear, and radiological events. In addition, Indiana will lose about $1.7 million in grants to help prevent and treat substance abuse, resulting in around 1,100 fewer admissions to substance abuse programs. And the Indiana State Department of Health will lose about $146,000 resulting in around 3,700 fewer HIV tests.
- STOP Violence Against Women Program: Indiana could lose up to $138,000 in funds that provide services to victims of domestic violence, resulting in up to 500 fewer victims being served.
- Nutrition Assistance for Seniors: Indiana would lose approximately $820,000 in funds that provide meals for seniors.
The Indiana report, which can be downloaded here, goes on to list Nationwide impacts.
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