Hanabusa Says Sequestration ‘Shows the Danger of Brinkmanship’

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa has penned this item for The Hill warning about impending budget cuts if Congress fails to act.

Known as “sequestration,” $1.2 trillion in deficit reductions would go into effect in January, hitting especially hard on defense spending. 

Excerpts:

Today, sequestration is the elephant in the room whenever we talk about the defense industry. Devastating cuts to our national defense base could take effect at the beginning of next year. Republicans are now using the threat of cuts as leverage for their old flawed strategy of gutting important programs while refusing any logical revenue increases.  

Under the BCA’s sequestration formula, defense programs would be cut by $54.7 billion each year from 2013 through 2021. (Non-defense programs would be cut by the same amount.) Cuts to the defense budget would slash programs equally across the board, reducing pay and benefits to military personnel and cancelling important procurement projects. This is an unacceptable risk to our national security, and we must act to prevent it.

Here is another view on sequestration and defense cuts, this one from a Republican lawmaker.

—Chad Blair

Photo of F-22 arrival ceremony courtesy Bytemarks.