Sequester protest Wednesday in Yuma
A rally to repeal sequestration, a series of automatic federal budget cuts enacted on March 1 as part of an austerity fiscal policy, will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Yuma County Fairgrounds, 2520 E. 32nd St.
With several to be held statewide, the rallies are organized by various unions involved with federal, state or local government to encourage citizens to speak out against the sequester.
The austerity measures enacted by the sequester were initiated by the Budget Control Act of 2011. The measures were initially set to begin on Jan. 1 but were postponed for two months by the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012.
The cuts will reduce federal spending by about $85.4 billion during fiscal year 2013, with similar cuts expected each year from 2014 through 2021, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
The cuts have been divided equally between defense and non-defense categories, although Social Security, Medicaid, the salaries paid members of the military and veterans' benefits are exempt, according to the CBO.
Unlike funding for Medicaid, funding for Medicare will be reduced by 2 percent each fiscal year through 2021 if the austerity measures remain unchanged.
For more information about the Yuma rally, call Ryan Mims 1-202-341-0470.
