Senators Concerned Going Off Fiscal Cliff Could Hurt Alaska’s Military

Civilian workers at bases could face cuts

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By Megan Edge

Story Created: Dec 28, 2012 at 8:07 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Dec 28, 2012 at 8:07 AM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - The deadline for finding the fiscal cliff is almost upon us, and Congress is still deadlocked about a solution.

But how will it impact Alaska?

CBS 11's Megan Edge explored one area that could be hit hard come January 1: Alaska’s military.

Many federal workers for various departments have started to get nervous.

January 1 is less than a week away, and Congress has not been able to come up with a solution that would avoid $110 billion in cuts a year for the next 10 years.

About eight to ten percent of those cuts would come from military spending.

The military and Alaska have a long history.

“The most important thing about Alaska is our strategic location,” said Senator Mark Begich (D-Alaska). “We are located obviously to support the activities in the Pacific Rim, which are now becoming a more strategic element of our national defense and international activity.”

It's a relationship Alaskans don't want to see come to an end, but are afraid what's happening in Washington might cause a break-up.

Alaska’s senators are keeping an especially close eye on defense cuts.

Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski is especially concerned about what they might do to our “fragile economy.”

And her Democratic counterpart, Begich, agrees. “The military, especially in the Interior, has a huge economic impact. That's why we've seen continued growth, even in these tight fiscal times in the last four years.”

Both senators say Alaska’s active military personnel will be protected.

It's what won't be protected that concerns them.

“But civilian employees would be subjected into upwards of eight percent reductions,” Begich said.

Both of Alaska’s senators say the pain will be felt in the Last Frontier if no deal is reached.

“I call it the duct tape approach,” Begich said. “We just gotta pull that duct tape back pretty fast, and its going to hurt, but at the end of the day we will be stronger for it.”

Both senators say the only thing Alaska and its military members can do now is wait until the clock runs out and we welcome in 2013 together to see what the future holds.

Federal tax cuts and breaks enacted under George W. Bush will also expire January 1.

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EJE said on Sunday, Jan 6 at 8:29 PM

These are definitely uncertain times for civilians working for the military in Alaska. Civilian employee cuts and shifting of jobs have occurred at JBER. We can only wait it out until our leaders make the decisions and deal with the pain after they 'pull that duct tape back pretty fast.'

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Raven33 said on Tuesday, Jan 1 at 9:26 AM

I think the cliff is a good thing. Sure it's going to hurt but unless we go over it, we'll never stop the government from taking from people that work hard and giving it to those who don't.

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Betty James said on Friday, Dec 28 at 11:30 AM

I am thinking that the fiscal cliff is going to affect way more than the military...take off your blinders Mark Begich...you are teh one that stuck the duct tape ion there in the first place. Get rid of Obama care and if you want to cut something quit paying past Senators and Congressman full wages when they retire star there first instead of threatening the elderly that paid for their benifits, or the military that put their lives on the line to protect your sorry....well you get the idea..

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