Report Details Cumulative Cuts To Labor, Health, Education Programs
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) released a new report today laying out the bare facts on how deeply labor, education and health programs have been cut, and refuting Republican claims that increased spending in these areas is responsible for the deficit. The report details a decade-long erosion of federal support for these programs, as well as how badly the departments will continue to suffer as a result of recent budget cuts and the indiscriminate, across-the-board cuts--known as sequestration--that will occur on March 1 if Congress fails to act.
Over the past decade, per-capita, inflation adjusted spending on labor, education and health programs have been cut by roughly seven percent, or a total of $12 billion. If sequestration goes into effect on March 1, another $7.5 billion will be cut in these same critical areas. That will be on top of cuts already required by the Budget Control Act of 2011, which are expected to cut over $9 billion, or 5.4 percent, from inflation and population adjusted spending by 2021.
"This report thoroughly refutes Republican claims that spending on labor, education and health programs is out of control, and demonstrates that substantial cuts have already been made to services critical to the nation's well-being. Particularly on the heels of the worst recession in decades, we should be bolstering programs that provide job training, access to higher education and mental health services, not further cutting in to them and harming American families.
"And instead of sitting back and watching the middle class suffer, Congress should be finding a balanced solution to the sequester. If these cuts continue, and increase, they will cost us jobs, slow down our recovery and-- most importantly--cause great harm to families who are already struggling to get by. I am imploring my Republican colleagues; please join us in finding a sensible solution."
The report takes a comprehensive look at the compounded impacts of multiple cuts in funding: from 2002-2012, from the cuts that were put in place by last year's Budget Control Act, and from the impact sequestration would have on labor, education and health programs. All numbers were compiled by DeLauro's staff, working from publicly available resources.
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