Sep 16, 2015 2 min read

Anyone following federal budget discussions has probably heard this year’s political buzzword: sequestration.

Two weeks before the end of the fiscal year, with a federal budget deadline of Sept. 30, Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey talked sequestration – automatic spending limits on the federal government – and its impact on Pennsylvania’s 67 counties during a conference call Wednesday.

Before the end of the the month, Congress needs to take up a stopgap resolution that would temporarily continue defense and nondefense appropriations at current 2015 levels, providing relief from sequestration.

“Inaction and failure to restore sequester-level cuts in the fiscal year 2016 budget will have real consequences in Pennsylvania,” he said.

“I’ve often said that the impact of sequester is bad enough, but when you consider that it’s been in place for a number of years – except for a temporary lifting – I don’t think any business or any family would do their budgeting this way,” Casey said. “One of the things we should negotiate with Republicans is not just spending levels but also to finally get rid of sequestration and the budget caps it imposes forever.”

In 2011, Congress enacted sequestration in an effort to reduce spending and the federal budget deficit. Sequestration was to come into force in 2013, but Congress provided two years of relief as part of that year’s budget agreement. However, sequestration is to come into full force in 2016 if no action is taken.

Casey called on Republicans to negotiate a balanced budget and said failure to reach an agreement would lead to negative consequences for Pennsylvanians.

He cited funding cuts for Community Development Block Grants, a loss of Head Start programs and cuts in local Social Security offices that would lead to longer wait times for services.

“Community Development Block Grants are one of the few areas of our federal budget where Washington can say we’re providing direct help to local communities,” Casey said.

According to Casey, Washington County currently has almost $3.2 available in CDBG grants; Greene County has $219,000.

“It’s about time we stop allowing people in Washington to play games with the budget itself, or appropriations, and to sit down and negotiate budgets that make a lot more sense and focus on our priorities. And finally, finally, get rid of sequestration once and for all.”