Congresswoman Chellie Pingree Speaks at a Memorial Day Commeration Several Years Ago.

By Carol McCracken  (Post # 1,302)

Much of the nation is focused on the possibility that automatic spending cuts scheduled to occur on Friday, March 1st will occur with no one knowing for certain how it will impact the economy.  Some say it will throw the nation back into another recession, while others seem indifferent to the possibility.

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D), has asked Congressional leaders to take swift action and come up with a balanced plan to stop these automatic spending cuts that would threaten the Maine economy as well as a range of vital services for its residents.

“This report (released by the Obama administration over the weekend) highlights the damage to the economy and to the safety and security of families here in Maine that the drastic, indiscriminate, across-the-board automatic spending cuts that start on Friday will cause,” Pingree said in a press release.  “Whether it is children in school, hungry  seniors, college students struggling to pay for college, people looking for a job, or women who are the victims of violence, or our public safety and health, this report details the damaging impact these cuts will have on people here in Maine.”

Pingree is concerned about the lack of a funding bill for the Defense Department and the effect it could have on shipbuildling programs at Bath Iron Works.   For some companies like BIW, not having a current defense spending bill will only make the problems that come with these automatic spending cuts worse.  We simply cannot afford any more  of these self-inflicted wounds from Washington,” she said in the same press release.

Social Security benefits, Medicaid and food stamp programs are exempt from these cuts due to the Budget Control Act of 2011.

Pingree is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.