Congressman Pocan and Citizen Action of Wisconsin Urge Action to Avert the Sequester and Protect Wisconsin Jobs and Middle Class Families

Madison – Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) held a media conference today with Executive Director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin Robert Kraig, highlighting the urgent need to avert the sequester and protect Wisconsin jobs and middle class families. Unless Congress acts, $85 billion in across-the-board spending cuts will take effect on March 1, resulting in the loss of more than 36,000 Wisconsin jobs and reduced resources for critical services such as education, small business loans, Meals on Wheels and Head Start.

“The sequester’s across-the-board spending cuts represent a budget tornado,” said Congressman Mark Pocan.. “The cuts would bring severely harmful effects to our communities here in Wisconsin, slowing our economic growth, reducing key services and resulting in the loss of more than 36,000 Wisconsin jobs. This is irresponsible and unacceptable. Congress must come together on a balanced, common sense plan that responsibly reduces our deficit while maintaining investments that drive economic and job growth.”

“The best way for Congress to avoid this unnecessary and self inflicted crisis is to find the political courage to ask the wealthy and large special interests to pay their fair share,” said Robert Kraig, executive director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin. ”This human-made crisis literally pits corporate tax loopholes against children, seniors and our most vulnerable citizens. It is time for Congress to put the opportunity, security, and freedom of most Americans over the demands of wealthy special interests feeding at the public trough.”

“If this sequester is allowed to take effect, close to 373,000 seriously mentally ill adults and seriously emotionally disturbed children could end up being untreated nationally,” said Janie Harris, a Madison nurse. “This population is one of the least able to handle this level of abandonment.”

“The sequestration will increase hardships for vulnerable people and families in our community, especially for families with young children,” said Colleen Alvey, a licensed social worker. “As the resources available to families shrink, 600,000 women and children would be dropped from the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. We cannot put these vulnerable populations at risk because of politics and partisanship.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.

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