Yesterday (8-7-12), Congressman Mike Turner announced that a forum, focusing on the impact impending-defense-cuts will have on the Dayton region will take place next week. WYSO’s Jerry Kenney was on hand for the event.
Speaking before workers at the GEMCITY manufacturing plant on Leo St. in Dayton, Turner said the sequestration cuts in defense spending are the result of a compromise on last year’s debt ceiling talks.
The Budget Control Act passed by Congress outlined automatic cuts to mandatory and discretionary spending. Turner believes if those cuts happen, it will be devastating to the Miami Valley’s economy.
He said, "The estimates are between four and five thousand people locally could lose their jobs and we need to prepare. We need to make certain we have a strong voice as a community; that we are opposed to these cuts that we expect the President to come up with a solution. I voted against this because of the randomness and the devastating consequences that this will have both to national security and to our community."
With much of our local economy tied up in Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the 1000’s of contractors and sub-contractors that support the defense department, Turner says this is a problem that deserves immediate attention.
Speaking to reporters, Turner said, "Neither the Senate nor the administration have come up with an alternate plan. Nor have they criticized the plan that the house has. So we’re in a grid-lock as a result of silence that’s coming from the President and the Senate. That’s why I’m concerned that these may not be averted. Uh, if the President doesn’t come forward with either endorsing the house plan or a plan of his own, these cuts will go into place. This is wrong. This is not how we should be doing budgeting."
The community forum will take place at Sinclair Community College on August 14th. The Dayton Development Coalition, Dayton Defense, the Chamber of Commerce and other organizations will all take part.
