Warner Robins Mayor, Council Ask Congress to Pass National Budget to Avoid Drastic Defense Cuts

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The City of Warner Robins pleads with the United States Congress to come together and pass the nation’s budget.

Tuesday night at the council meeting, mayor Chuck Shaheen and council asked Congress in a resolution to put aside differences and pass the nation’s budget before the deadline of January 3013.

If they don’t, something called “sequestration”–a part of the Gramm-Rudman Act of 1985–will require $1 trillion be slashed from the national budget over the next 10 years.

Much of those cuts would come from the Department of Defense, which means a huge impact could be felt by Robins Air Force Base and the region’s economy.

Councilman Mike Brashear says that’s not the only thing the cuts would affect.

“My personal belief, since I spent the last 42 years working with the Department of Defense and Aerospace and Defense, is it’s going to really impact the business of defending our country,” says Brashear.  “Lockheed (Martin) has already said they’re going to lay off somewhere around 10,000 people.  Northrup (Grumman) will do the same; Boeing will do the same, because as the military downsizes, there will be less airplanes, less ships, less tanks to be maintained.”

Congress has until January 1st to pass a budget.  Brashear says it’s time to put political differences aside and do what’s right for the country.

On top of the city’s resolution, council also urged citizens to contact their local congressman and urge them to work together to avoid the devastating cuts.