White House: How the sequester will affect Indiana

(WANE)  The White House has released state-by-state fact-sheets on the impacts the sequester will have if Congress does not reach a decision to avert it by the March 1 deadline.

See also | Sequester explained

The sequester is a series of automatic budget cuts that will take effect on March 1 unless Congress reaches a deal to avert them. The March 1 deadline for the across-the-board spending cuts was set during the January fiscal cliff negotiations .

In January, congress passed a deal that allowed taxes to remain steady for the middle class and rise at incomes over $400,000 for individuals and $450,000 for couples. The automatic budget cuts, along with the automatic tax increases that congress did reach a deal on, threatened to put the country over the 'fiscal cliff.' The budget cuts were deferred for two months in order to allow the White House and lawmakers time to regroup.

See also | Fort Wayne's 122nd Fighter Wing and the sequester

Impacts on Indiana

According to the White House, the following are some of the effects the Sequester will have in Indiana:

See the full Indiana fact-sheet

• Teachers and Schools: Indiana will lose approximately $13.8 million in funding for primary and secondary education, putting around 190 teacher and aide jobs at risk. In addition about 12,000 fewer students would be served and approximately 50 fewer schools would receive funding.
  • Education for Children with Disabilities: In addition, Indiana will lose approximately $12.4 million in funds for about 150 teachers, aides, and staff who help children with disabilities.
     
• Military Readiness: In Indiana, approximately 11,000 civilian Department of Defense employees
  would be furloughed, reducing gross pay by around $64.4 million in total.
  • Army: Base operation funding would be cut by about $1.7 million in Indiana.
  • Air Force: Funding for Air Force operations in Indiana would be cut by about $7 million.
  • Navy: Scheduled Blue Angels shows in Indianapolis and Evansville could be canceled.
     
• Law Enforcement and Public Safety Funds for Crime Prevention and Prosecution: Indiana will lose about $262,000 in Justice Assistance Grants that support law enforcement, prosecution and courts, crime prevention and education, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, and crime victim and witness initiatives.
   
• Job Search Assistance to Help those in Indiana find Employment and Training: Indiana will lose about $683,000 in funding for job search assistance, referral, and placement, meaning around 24,290 fewer people will get the help and skills they need to find employment.
   
• Child Care: Up to 600 disadvantaged and vulnerable children could lose access to child care, which is also essential for working parents to hold down a job.
   
• Vaccines for Children: In Indiana around 2,770 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 $189,000.
   
• Public Health: Indiana will lose approximately $619,000 in funds to help upgrade its ability to respond to public health threats including infectious diseases, natural disasters, and biological, chemical, nuclear, and radiological events. In addition, Indiana will lose about $1.7 million in grants to help prevent and treat substance abuse, resulting in around 1,100 fewer admissions to substance abuse programs. And the Indiana State Department of Health will lose about $146,000 resulting in around 3,700 fewer HIV tests.
   
• STOP Violence Against Women Program: Indiana could lose up to $138,000 in funds that provide services to victims of domestic violence, resulting in up to 500 fewer victims being served.
   
• Nutrition Assistance for Seniors: Indiana would lose approximately $820,000 in funds that provide meals for seniors.

See also | Impact of the Sequester on Ohio