Murkowski Presses White House for Transparency on Federal Cuts
With Deadline Missed, Senator Tells President “We’re In the Dark” on Wide-Ranging Cuts
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Lisa Murkowski issued the following statement after the White House failed to meet the Congressionally-required September 7th deadline to inform Americans about wide-ranging budget cuts on the horizon – after she co-sponsored legislation imposing the deadline on the President:
“The nation is currently facing over an undefined 100 billion in spending cuts to next year’s federal budget, and the President has yet to indicate how and where these cuts will be made through the “sequestration” process. Last week, the White House missed its Congressionally-directed deadline to provide more details about these cuts, information we need to understand how Alaskans could be impacted by these significant spending cuts.
“I co-sponsored the “Sequestration Transparency Act” this summer, because policy makers in Washington and Alaska need this information to properly plan our economic future. We have a large military presence in our state that we appreciate and look out for, and the federal footprint is enormous. Even in today’s polarized Senate, this bill passed unanimously and the president signed it into law.
“But laws have details and laws require action; this legislation meant the White House had 30 days had to show us the proposed cuts. That deadline came and went last Friday. Providing Americans certainty should be a key priority in these economic times. But right now, we’re in the dark.
“This White House promised they would be the most transparent administration ever. This is their chance to follow through.”
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