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Massive Funding Losses for NC Unless Congress Cancels Cuts

Jeremy Sprinkle
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 26, 2013

Contact: Jeremy Sprinkle, Communications Director, 336-255-2711, [email protected]

NORTH CAROLINA STANDS TO LOSE MASSIVE FUNDING FOR EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE AND PUBLIC SAFETY FROM SEQUESTER CUTS

This is how far Republicans will go to protect tax loopholes for corporations and the wealthy

(Raleigh, NC, 2/26/13)  A report from the Senate Appropriations Committee shows that threats by Congressional Republicans to let automatic across-the-board budget cuts – called “sequestration” – go forward on March 1, 2013 would harm the economy and would cause North Carolina to lose enormous funding for education, public safety, healthcare, and job training.

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

These drastic cuts would slash nearly $34,078,909 from Title I, the largest federal-funded education program in the United States, meaning North Carolina schools would be left struggling to pay for teachers and tutors.  Critical grants for public safety would be cut back by $1,441,144, leaving our fire departments understaffed and working without necessary, critical equipment.

“Yet again, Republicans in Congress are threatening to throw the economy back into recession unless Democrats agree to cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid,” said state AFL-CIO president James Andrews.  “They are willing to allow reckless cuts that will hurt working families instead of closing wasteful tax loopholes and demanding corporations and the richest 2% pay their fair share.  We need to invest in our economy and our people by creating more jobs, not cutting them.  Congress must stop protecting corporations and the richest 2% and immediately cancel the sequester.”

Additional North Carolina cuts (tables start on page 146):

 Program FY 12 Funding FY 13 Sequester Cut Impact
Head Start $172,280,427 $13,437,873 447 Head Start jobs lost and 2,146 fewer children served
Public Health Emergency Preparedness Grants $14,976,630 $1,441,144 Reduced ability to respond to biological, radiological, chemical, and natural emergencies
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program $81,534,565 $4,993,614 Less funding to provide home heating and cooling assistance to low-income individuals and families
Improving Teacher Quality State Grants $53,878,382 $5,875,340 6193 fewer teachers, serving 87,445 students, receive professional development

Find the full report at: http://www.harkin.senate.gov/documents/pdf/500ff3554f9ba.pdf

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The North Carolina State AFL-CIO is the largest association of local unions and union councils in North Carolina, representing over one-hundred thousand union members, fighting for good jobs, safe workplaces, workers’ rights, consumer protections, and quality public services on behalf of ALL working families.  PO Box 10805, Raleigh, NC 27605.

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