Like Shooting Ourselves in the Head The Potential Economic and National Security Implications of Sequestration

Wednesday, June 6^th at 2:00pm

The Reserve Officers Association, Symposium Room
One Constitution Avenue, NE Washington D.C. 20002

Speakers

Steven Bucci, Ph.D.
Senior Research Fellow for Defense and Homeland Security, Heritage Foundation

Mackenzie Eaglen

Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.

President and CEO, Center for Security Policy

Captain Marshall Hanson, USNR (Ret.)
Director, Legislative and Military Policy, Reserve Officers Association

Robert Zarate

Policy Director, Foreign Policy Initiative

This event will also be livestreamed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvsYIHy-2zU

In September 2011, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta compared mandated Sequestration defense budget cuts to “shooting ourselves in the head.” On Wednesday, the Center for Security Policy will roll out the new 2011 data for their widely used resource, the “Defense Breakdown Economic Impact Reports.” The reports demonstrate the threat to national security and the economy through summary projections for all states, and online reports that show the potential effects of the 18% Sequestration defense cuts on states, counties, cities, business types (ethnic/minority/women/veteran), congressional districts, and industries.

At a recent press conference, Senator Kyl urged Americans “to get a copy of this report to see how it affects the economy and jobs in the country.” Since the first release with 2010 data in February 2012, the reports have been used by numerous Governors’ offices, over a hundred offices in the House and Senate, major national veterans’ organizations and grassroots organizations, and political campaigns – all concerned about the impact of the mandated 18% Sequestration defense budget cuts on their local economies. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) refusal to pass a budget, and a White House pledge to “veto any effort to get rid of those automatic spending cuts,” make the need to assess economic impacts of Sequestration defense cuts greater than ever before.

The Center’s “Defense Breakdown Economic Impact Reports” are part of a broader 2012 initiative, the Coalition for the Common Defense, intended to educate and engage the American public on the importance of maintaining a strong national defense.

About the Coalition for the Common Defense

The Coalition for the Common Defense is an alliance of like-minded individuals and organizations who believe that without provision for the “common defense,” as articulated by the Founders, the freedom that has allowed unprecedented opportunity and prosperity to flourish in this country would soon be imperiled. In this new age of budgetary cuts, the Coalition rejects the false choice between military strength and economic health contending that economic prosperity depends on a strong national defense. Through a series of events and strategic partnerships, the coalition is calling on elected officials, candidates for office and others who share our commitment to the common defense to uphold these principles. We must return the United States to sensible fiscal principles without sacrificing our national security.

A full statement of principles can be located here. The Coalition of the Common Defense can be found online at www.forthecommondefense.org.

About the Center for Security Policy

The Center for Security Policy is a non-profit, non-partisan national security organization that specializes in identifying policies, actions, and resource needs that are vital to American security and then ensures that such issues are the subject of both focused, principled examination and effective action by recognized policy experts, appropriate officials, opinion leaders, and the general public.