To All, I am forwarding the joint message members of ESA were encouraged to sign. I did not sign as I would have loved to do but I believe that wars, the excessively large military budget, loose regulation of banking and finance leading to a reduced tax base, and unfair tax policy (particularly that resulting in lower tax rates for capital gain than for wages) are the culprits and I will not blame social programs for the deficit. If others feel the same, perhaps we can ask for a change in the letter. It seems one sided.
Phil Ganter Biological Sciences Tennessee State University ------ Forwarded Message From: ESA Action Alert <[email protected]> Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2012 16:13:44 -0500 To: Phil Ganter <[email protected]> Subject: ESA action alert Dear ESA Member: Please consider signing on to a letter urging Congress to avoid a January budget sequestration, which would have dramatic negative impacts on U.S. domestic programs, including science and education. The letter, which was developed by the Ecological Society of America (ESA), the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS), and the American Mathematical Society (AMS), asks that Congress devise a bipartisan solution to addressing the nation's debt crisis and avoid draconian cuts that will hurt the economy and the nation's future, and do nothing to stave off the fiscal crisis. AIBS, AMS and ESA were among 3,000 organizations that signed on to a letter to Congress urging a balanced approach to deficit reduction. Now it's vitally important that Members of Congress hear from you, their constituents. To weigh in on this important issue, please click here <http://capwiz.com/aibs/issues/alert/?alertid=61759666> to go to the AIBS Legislative Action Center where you will be able to personalize the letter, which will then be sent to your congressional delegation. ============================================== BACKGROUND: On January 2, 2013, automatic cuts ("sequestration") will take place unless Congress and the Administration take steps to prevent them. This has to do with the national debt: nearly 1/3 of U.S. spending is borrowed and debt is set to skyrocket in the coming decades if reforms don't happen. Health care costs are the primary driver of the nation's debt. The Budget Control Act of 2011 (P.L. 112-25) established caps on discretionary spending over 10 years, which will result in nearly $1 trillion in cuts spread across discretionary programs. Discretionary programs are those that Congress funds annually through the appropriations process and include both defense and non-defense programs. Non-defense discretionary (NDD) programs include medical and scientific research, education and job training, infrastructure, public safety and health, environmental protection and social services, among many others. The Budget Control Act also directed a congressional "Super Committee" to find an additional $1.2 trillion in savings over 10 years. The committee failed to reach a deal, triggering the "sequester" to take effect on January 2 of next year. These cuts will be across-the-board and, assuming Congress and the White House sign a Continuing Resolution into law that would keep federal agencies funded at current, fiscal year 2012 levels, then NDD faces a cut of at least 8 percent. Although the sequester would delay the federal debt from reaching 100 percent of U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by two years, this short extension would come at a high cost. Sequestration is projected to cost the economy over 1 million jobs in 2013 and 2014. AIBS has prepared a short report that explains sequestration <http://www.aibs.org/public-policy/resources/AIBS_Sequestration_Report.pdf> and the fiscal cliff, and details the possible impacts on research and science education. A PowerPoint presentation on sequestration by the Bipartisan Policy Center <http://bipartisanpolicy.org/sites/default/files/The%20Sequester-%20Mechanics%20and%20Impact.pdf> gives additional information on this issue, including a chart that shows how states will be negatively impacted by sequestration. A report by the Aerospace Industries Association <http://www.aia-aerospace.org/assets/Fuller_II_Final_Report.pdf> showcases how many jobs will be lost per state (Table 3, pages 9 and 10). Please consider adding the information about your state to the letter. ESA, AIBS and AMS were among 3,000 organizations that signed on to a letter <http://publichealthfunding.org/uploads/NDDLetter.Final.July2012.pdf> urging a balanced approach to deficit reduction. Now it's vitally important that Members of Congress hear from their constituents. For questions or further information please contact ESA Director of Public Affairs Nadine Lymn ([email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> ) Highlights Issues in Ecology: <http://www.esa.org/> Serita Frey, Professor of Soil Microbial Ecology at the University of New Hampshire, has been appointed Editor-in-Chief of Issues in Ecology, ________________________________ Download ESA Toolbar <http://esa.ourorganizationtoolbar.com/> ESA Toolbar - ESA At Your Fingertips ________________________________ ESA Blog: EcoTone <http://www.esa.org/esablog> Latest ESA Blog Posts ________________________________ ESA Podcasts <http://www.esa.org/podcast> Listen to ESA Podcasts ________________________________ For more visit www.esa.org <http://www.esa.org/> | unsubscribe <mailto:[email protected]?subject=Unsubscribe-000285MTMzMQAA> . ------ End of Forwarded Message
