BILL ANALYSIS �
AJR 42
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Date of Hearing: August 14, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
Paul J. Cook, Chair
AJR 42 (Nestande) - As Introduced: June 20, 2012
SUBJECT : Department of Defense (DoD) Budget Cuts
SUMMARY : Opposes the budget presented by the United States Air
Force to the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States. Specifically, in this bill it is resolved:
1. That the Legislature joins the Riverside County Board of
Supervisors, the California National Guard Association, and
the National Guard Association of the United States in
opposition to the disproportional budget cuts as presented
by the United States Air Force as they adversely impact the
California Military Department and the Air National Guard
and jeopardize national security and homeland defense; and
2. That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to each Senator and Representative from
California in the Congress of the United States and the
author for appropriate distribution.
FISCAL EFFECT : This measure is not keyed fiscal.
COMMENTS :
It is likely that on January 2, 2013, the U.S. defense budget
will be drastically reduced. The Balanced Budget and Emergency
Deficit Control Act of 1985 set deficit targets. That law
stipulated that if spending exceeded the specified targets, a
process known as sequester would go into effect. Last August,
as part of a negotiated deal, Congress agreed on $900 billion in
spending cuts and the creation of the Joint Select Committee on
Deficit Reduction (the "supercommittee"). The supercommittee was
directed to come up with $1.2 trillion more in deficit cuts over
a decade. If the supercommittee failed, or if Congress rejected
the panel's recommendation, the automatic spending cuts would
start Jan. 2, 2013.
Because of the failure of the congressional supercommittee to
agree on a deficit reduction plan, the 2011 Budget Control Act
automatically cuts about $500 billion from the defense budget.
AJR 42
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These cuts fall on top of $487 billion in reductions.
Whether or not a strategy will emerge to avoid sequestration and
if not, what the effects of sequestration will be are
speculative at this point. However, sending a strong message
and taking a position of vigilance and concern about the DoD
budget is wise in the face of so much uncertainty.
RELATED LEGISLATION:
AB 342 (Atkins, 2011)- Office of Planning and Research (OPR)-
States that the OPR shall serve as the state's liaison to the
DoD, particularly with regard to any proposed BRAC actions. In
particular the OPR shall "?develop any necessary regional or
stateside strategies necessary for the establishment and
retention of the state's military facilities and installations
that are potentially impacted by any proposed federal Base
Realignment and Closure actions."
SJR 19 (Strickland, 2012)- Military Base Closures. This bill
urges California Congressional delegates to protect California
military bases from closure.
SJR 24 (Harman, 2012)- Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach. This
bill urges California Congressional delegates to protect Naval
Weapons Station Seal Beach from closure.
SJR 25 (Harman, 2012)- Los Alamitos Joint Training Base. This
bill urges California Congressional delegates to protect Los
Alamitos Joint Training Base from closure.
SJR 26 (Vargas, 2012)- Naval Air Facility El Centro. This bill
urges California Congressional delegates to protect Naval Air
Facility El Centro from closure.
SJR 28 (Emmerson, 2012)- Department of Defense Budget Cuts.
Opposes the budget proposed by the United States Air Force.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
None on file.
Opposition
AJR 42
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None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : John Spangler / V. A. / (916) 319-3550