From childcare facilities to national parks, looming budget caps will have county by county consequences / Casey calls on Republicans to negotiate balanced budget accord
WASHINGTON, DC - With just two weeks before the full effect of sequestration goes into effect at the end of the fiscal year, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), highlighting county by county effects, released a report showcasing how PA residents will see the consequences of a failure to reach a balanced budget agreement. Casey covered the effects that the budget limits will have on healthcare, education, public safety, senior services, and national service programs.
“Inaction and failure to responsibly restore sequester-level cuts in FY 2016 budget will have real consequences in Pennsylvania,” Senator Casey said. “It’s time to end the budget games and come together on the approach that gets more children off to a strong start in life, makes secure our seniors receives they services they need and rebuilds our infrastructure.”
Before the end of September, Congress needs to take up a stop-gap continuing resolution (CR). A short-term CR would temporarily continue defense and non-defense appropriations at the current 2015 levels. The sequestration relief provided in the 2013 Bipartisan Budget Agreement covered only two years, 2014 and 2015, leaving sequestration’s full effects in place for 2016. The non-defense cap for 2016 is only $1.1 billion, or 0.2 percent, higher than the 2015 enacted level — but $9 billion lower than the 2015 level when accounting for inflation. In fact, the 2016 cap would result in spending on these non-defense programs equaling the lowest level in the last five decades, when measured relative to the size of the economy.
The full report is attached, as well as an audio link for today’s conference call.
http://www.casey.senate.gov/download/impact-of-sequestration-on-pa-residents
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