Close to 7,000 Maine jobs are at risk if federal budget cuts slated to take effect on March 1 occur. That conclusion is based on a report authored by Dr. Stephen S. Fuller, a professor at George Mason University.
The Coalition on Human Needs (CHN) has also conducted an analysis of the projected impacts on Maine from federal budget cuts known as sequestration. CHN notes that these “indiscriminate cuts come on top of a 15.9 percent cut in federal funds to Maine from 2010 to 2012.”
Some of CHN’s Maine findings:
- 1,800 Maine women and children will lose WIC nutrition benefits
- 631 low-income families will lose rental housing vouchers
- 356 Mainers with disabilities will not be able to enroll in vocational rehabilitation services
- $620,000 for housing and emergency shelter will be denied
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is expected to average only $375 per household served in 2013, down from $405 in 2012
- More than $2.7 million will be cut from Title I K-12 education funding for schools in low-income communities
As CHN adds:
This does not have to happen. Increased revenues from wealthy individuals and profitable corporations as well as savings from reducing waste in the Pentagon and elsewhere can prevent these cuts. In fact, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and other senators outlined a plan on February 14 (the American Family Economic Protection Act) that would replace the 2013 cuts by setting a minimum tax rate for millionaires, closing other loopholes, gradually cutting the Pentagon and ending certain farm subsidies. It will be up for a vote during the week of February 25.
Phone, write or e-mail our representatives in Congress and let them know how you feel about these cuts!
U.S. Senator Susan Collins
413 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2523
Fax: (202) 224-2693
e-mail: http://www.collins.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email
U.S. Senator Angus King
188 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-5344
Fax: (202) 224-1946
e-mail: http://www.king.senate.gov/contact.cfm
U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree
1318 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-6116
Fax; (202) 225-5590
e-mail: https://forms.house.gov/pingree/webforms/contact-form.shtml
U.S. Representative Mike Michaud
1724 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-6306
Fax: (202) 225-2943
e-mail: http://michaud.house.gov/email
