Center For Security Policy Urges Question on Impact of Sequestration During Tonight’s Presidential D

WASHINGTON DC, October 22, 2012: The Center for Security Policy – a founder of the Coalition for the Common Defense – has sent a letter to CBS’s Bob Schieffer, the moderator of tonight’s final presidential debate, urging that he include a question on the risks sequestration poses to national security and military readiness.

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The letter notes that sequestration – which will, unless reversed, reduce the U.S. defense budget by $500 billion over the next ten years – is scheduled to take effect on January 2, 2013. Even though senior officials have warned that the consequences will be "catastrophic" for the national security, the Obama administration has, nonetheless: 1) declined to offer a thorough assessment of how these cuts will affect national defense or the defense-industrial base that supports it; 2) ordered the Department of Defense to do no planning for the implementation of these cuts and 3) dubiously advised defense contractors that they need not provide statutorily required warnings to employees concerning impending layoffs due to sequestration — and that taxpayers will pay for legal costs if by such inaction they run afoul of the law. The letter also draws attention to the Center’s Defense Breakdown Economic Impact Report, a comprehensive analysis of the projected economic impacts of defense sequestration at the state/local level.

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On releasing the open letter to Mr. Schieffer, the Center’s President and CEO Frank J. Gaffney, Jr., said: “Tonight’s presidential debate is the last opportunity for the American people to hear from both candidates on the same stage about the looming crisis sequestration will trigger and its effects on the security, military readiness and economic well-being of our nation. Mr. Schieffer would be performing a vital service for the American people by asking both President Obama and Governor Romney to articulate their plans for how they will prevent these catastrophic defense cuts from taking effect. It is also critically important that President Obama be asked – as Commander-in-Chief – to explain why the Department of Defense has been prohibited thus far from planning for so consequential a moment for our national security as sequestration represents.” A copy of the letter from the Center for Security Policy to Mr. Schieffer can be found below.

Mr. Bob Schieffer CBS News 2020 M Street Northwest Washington, DC 20036 October 19, 2012 Dear Mr. Schieffer, The defense sequestration budget cuts, scheduled to take effect on January 2, 2013, will reduce the nation’s military budget by $500 billion over the next ten years. To date, the administration has not presented any plans regarding how these sequestration cuts will affect our military capabilities and national security, other than a September 14, 2012 document estimating across-the-board 9.4% reductions. The Center for Security Policy, a founder of the Coalition for the Common Defense, has prepared reports for cities, counties, states and congressional districts with benchmark estimates on the local economic impacts of the sequestration defense budget cuts (taken against a FY2011 baseline). These reports on sequestration's potential effects have been widely covered by local news outlets in 35 states, as well as national media. As the moderator for the third presidential debate, we strongly urge you to ask a question on the risks from sequestration budget cuts to the nation's security and military preparedness, resulting from the administration's insistence that the Pentagon not make any plans for these cuts, as well as the risks to the nation’s economy—to Main Street and especially to small businesses—from these cuts. We are enclosing as background materials:

• The National Defense Breakdown Economic Impact Report:
• The State by State Defense Breakdown Economic Impact Reports:
• A report of potential Florida’s contracts that will be affected, listed by congressional district:
• An example of the spreadsheet congressional district reports, this one for Rep. Jeff Miller's (R­ FL-01) District Report:

Various news articles referencing our data. Please contact us if you have any questions. We look forward to watching the debate, and strongly urge your including a question on sequestration budget cuts. About the Coalition for the Common Defense: The Coalition for the Common Defense is an alliance of like-minded individuals and organizations who believe that without provision for the "common defense," as al1iculated by the Founders, the freedom that has allowed unprecedented opportunity and prosperity to flourish in this country would soon be imperiled, In this new age of budgetary cuts, the Coalition rejects the false choice between military strength and economic health contending that economic prosperity depends on a strong national defense. Through a series of events and strategic partnerships, the coalition is calling on elected officials, candidates for office and others who share our commitment to the common defense to uphold these principles. We must return the United States to sensible fiscal principles without sacrificing our national security. A full statement of principles can be located here. The Coalition of the Common Defense can be found online at www.forthecommondefense.org. About the Center for Security Policy: The Center for Security Policy is a non-profit, non-partisan national security organization that specializes in identifying policies, actions, and resource needs that are vital to American security and then ensures that such issues are the subject of both focused, principled examination and effective action by recognized policy experts, appropriate officials, opinion leaders, and the general public. Regards, Christine Brim Chief Operating Officer

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