Do-Nothing Pryor Votes “No” on Sequester Alternatives
WASHINGTON, D.C – For months, Republicans in the House and Senate have been urging their Democratic counterparts to replace President Obama’s sequester with smarter, safer and more sensible spending cuts to lower the deficit. Instead, less than 24 hours before the President’s Sequester hits, Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR) chose to do nothing by voting against both the Republican and Democratic alternatives to replace the sequester.
You read that correctly: Senator Pryor voted against BOTH measures that would have averted the sequester HE said would cause thousands of Arkansans to lose their jobs.
All thanks to Mark Pryor.
NRSC Communications Director Brad Dayspring issued the following statement:
“Mark Pryor’s do nothing mentality hurts Arkansas. The Obama sequester, which Mark Pryor voted for, will be devastating to many in Arkansas. Families deserve better than Senator Pryor, who for the past year seemed more interested in reelecting Barack Obama than finding a smarter, safer and more sensible solution than the sequester to deal with our deficit.”
BACKGROUND:
Mark Pryor Voted For The Bill That Created The Sequester
Senator Mark Pryor Voted For The Budget Control Act, Which Included The Sequester. (S. 365, CQ Vote #123: Motion agreed to, thus clearing the bill for the president 74-26: R 28-19; D 45-6; I 1-1, 8/2/11, Pryor Voted Yea)
- Pryor Called The Budget Control Act “A Step In The Right Direction.” PRYOR: “The debate over raising the debt ceiling has been difficult but essential to reduce the deficit, avoid default, and provide more certainty in our economy. We started with harmful, partisan plans and advanced to an agreement on a bipartisan, practical solution. While not perfect, I plan to vote for this bill. It makes a nearly $1 trillion in spending cuts and sets the stage for long-term savings. It does so without dismantling safety net programs such as Social Security and Medicare, which would have been unacceptable to hundreds of thousands of Arkansans. Though it is a step in the right direction, we must continue making tough decisions to reduce our debt.” (Sen. Mark Pryor, “Statement By Senator Mark Pryor In Support Of The Bipartisan Solution To Raise The Debt Ceiling,” Press Release, 8/1/11)
According To White House Analysis, The Sequester Cuts Would Be Damaging To Arkansas
In Arkansas, Approximately 4,000 Civilian Department Of Defense Employees Would Be Furloughed, Reducing Gross Pay Around $19.2 Million In Total. “In Arkansas, approximately 4,000 civilian Department of Defense employees would be furloughed, reducing gross pay by about $19.2 million in total.”(“Impact Of March 1st Cuts On Middle Class Families, Jobs, And Economic Security: Arkansas,”The White House, Accessed 2/25/13)
· Base Operation Funding For Arkansas Would Be Cut For The Army By $1.6 Million, And For The Air Force By $2 Million. Army: Base operation funding would be cut by almost $1.6 million in Arkansas. Air Force: Funding for Air Forceoperations in Arkansas would be cut by about $2 million.” (“Impact Of March 1st Cuts On Middle Class Families, Jobs, And Economic Security: Arkansas,” The White House, Accessed 2/25/13)
Arkansas Would Lose Over $5.9 Million In Funding For Primary And Secondary Education, Putting 80 Teacher And Aide Jobs At Risk. “Arkansas will lose approximately $5.9 million in funding for primary and secondary education, putting around 80 teacher and aide jobs at risk. In addition about 10,000 fewer students would be served and approximately 30 fewer schools would receive funding.”(“Impact Of March 1st Cuts On Middle Class Families, Jobs, And Economic Security: Arkansas,” The White House, Accessed 2/25/13)
Arkansas Would Lose Over $5.6 Million In Funds For 70 Teachers, Aides And Staff Who Help Children With Disabilities. “In addition, Arkansas will lose approximately $5.6 million in funds for about 70 teachers, aides, and staff who help children with disabilities.”(“Impact Of March 1st Cuts On Middle Class Families, Jobs, And Economic Security: Arkansas,” The White House, Accessed 2/25/13)
Head Start Services Would Be Eliminated For Approximately 600 Children In Arkansas.“Head Start and Early Head Start services would be eliminate for approximately 600 children in Arkansas, reducing access to critical early education.” (“Impact Of March 1st Cuts On Middle Class Families, Jobs, And Economic Security: Arkansas,” The White House, Accessed 2/25/13)
Up To 200 Disadvantaged Arkansas Children Could Lose Access To Child Care. “Up to 200 disadvantaged and vulnerable children could lose access to child care, which is also essential for working parents to hold down a job.”(“Impact Of March 1st Cuts On Middle Class Families, Jobs, And Economic Security: Arkansas,” The White House, Accessed 2/25/13)
Approximately 1,140 Fewer Arkansas Children Will Receive Vaccines For Diseases Such As Mumps, Measles And Rubella. “In Arkansas around 1,140 fewer children will receive vaccines for diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, whooping cough, influenza, and Hepatitis B due to reduced funding for vaccinations of about $78,000.” (“Impact Of March 1st Cuts On Middle Class Families, Jobs, And Economic Security: Arkansas,” The White House, Accessed 2/25/13)
