FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sandi Curriero Luckey, Communications Director (406) 202-3165

 Montana Stands to Lose Massive Funding
for Education, Healthcare and Public Safety

from Sequester Cuts

Helena, MT February 26, 2013 - A report from the Senate Appropriations Committee shows that the threat of Congressional Republicans to harm the economy by letting automatic across-the-board budget cuts – called “sequestration” – go forward on March 1, 2013 would cause Montana to lose enormous amounts of funding for education, public safety, healthcare and job training.

The report further proves that the insistence of Republicans on cutting Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare benefits to pay for tax loopholes for corporations and the wealthiest 2 percent would directly harm Montana families.

Title I is the largest federally-funded education program in the United States. These drastic cuts would slash nearly $2,859,495 from Title I in Montana, meaning schools would be left struggling to pay for teachers and tutors. Critical grants for public safety would be cut back by $149,535, leaving fire departments understaffed and working without necessary, critical equipment.

“Sequestration threatens to throw our economy back into recession. Benefit cuts to earned, pre-paid programs like Social Security and Medicare is unacceptable. Montanans earned those benefits and they already paid for them too.” said Al Ekblad, executive secretary of the Montana State AFL-CIO. “It’s frustrating to realize Congressional Republicans are willing to cut jobs and hurt working families rather than close wasteful tax loopholes and demand corporations and the richest 2% pay their fair share. We need to invest in our economy and our people. We need massive quality job creation. Congress must stop protecting corporations and the ultra rich and cancel the sequester immediately.” 

Additional state cuts: 

The full report can be found at: http://www.harkin.senate.gov/documents/pdf/500ff3554f9ba.pdf

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