Is Sequestration a dirty word?
The definition of Sequestration is “the action of taking legal possession of assets until a debt has been paid or other claims have been met”.
Today we understand it to mean the across-the-board federal spending cuts that were agreed to by Congress and President Obama last year as part of the Budget Control Act of 2011 deal to raise the debt ceiling.
Because the Super Committee on Deficit Reduction did not reach any compromise or agreement in 2011 to reduce federal spending by $1.2 trillion over ten years, on March 1 of this year, automatic cuts will be shared equally between defense and non-defense spending.
Because Alaska receives a high per-capita share of the federal budget, this is not good news. We have a heavy military presence and we all know the federal government owns over 65% of our land. We also have a huge state with very little infrastructure and our loss may be greater than other states when across-the-board cuts are taken.
The main categories of federal spending are approximately:
o Medicare and Medicaid (23%)
o Social Security (20%)
o Defense (20%)
o Discretionary Domestic (18%)
o Other Mandatory (13%)
o Interest on Debt (6%)
The federal budget has experienced an annual surplus only six times since 1960. We take in much less than we spend. Just last year the government spent $1.3 trillion more than it took in. The current national debt of over $15 trillion is costing every citizen over $50,000 in debt. You and I do not live like this and yet we have to tolerate our government making poor decisions or not making any decisions.
As Republicans, we do not believe that leaving debt to future generations is appropriate. We are holding our Congressional representatives to a higher standard, and as Senator Murkowski said in her speech to the Alaska Legislature when asked about sequestration: “Indiscriminate cuts that hurt families and individuals just to make a political point, is not how you govern” and “Alaska bears a disproportionate share of that growing national burden both in terms of costs imposed and opportunities lost.”
We must support Congressman Young and Senator Murkowski as they attempt to do the right thing and hold the line on no additional taxes. I say this assuming the President stops traveling, fundraising for Democrats and playing golf long enough to submit a budget!
I know… I can be accused of being a Pollyanna, but at least we know what we should expect.
Respectfully,
Rhonda Boyles, President AFRW
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Alaska Federation of Republican Women
Founded 1962
P.O. Box 870744
Wasilla, AK 99687
Rhonda Boyles
President
E-mail: Click Here
Pictures From 2013
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In Alaska, the Mat-Su Republican Women’s Club was organized in the 1940’s and became affiliated with the National Federation of Republican Women before the Alaska Federation was established in 1962. Both Ketchikan and Juneau had active Republican Women’s clubs in the 1950’s. Today, the 500+ member Alaska Federation has nine clubs around the state.
The Alaska Federation of Republican Women (AFRW) recruits, educates, trains, supports and elects Republicans. Members participate in fundraising and campaign activities that inform people about our candidates, issues and Republican values.
We are committed to strengthening our Republican Party, empowering Republican women and creating a better future for our children and grandchildren.
In addition to working on political campaigns, the AFRW hosts events for Alaska’s Congressional delegation, our Republican Governor and Administration and our Republican state legislators. We also participate in the Barbara Bush Literacy Project, support our troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan and we raise funds to support these and projects.
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