Governor Bill AnoatubbyNovember 2012
Possibility of ‘sequestration’ calls for thoughtful planning
The modern history of the Chickasaw Nation has been one of growing self-reliance, willingness to engage new ideas and trust in our people’s skills and abilities to move our tribe forward.
Chickasaws have been rewarded for sticking with a good plan, and making thoughtful adjustments along the way. Walking the path toward true self-sufficiency has taken all of us working together. Our combined effort toward the common goal of serving all Chickasaws fully and well is paying great dividends.
Today, we invest tens of millions of dollars annually in health care, education, housing, economic development and so much more. We can do this because we have achieved important business goals and continue to grow our commercial base.
Prior to our tribe’s period of robust economic expansion, we relied almost exclusively on resources provided us by the federal government. Those funds were, and are, provided based on promises made by the United States to the tribes long ago. While important, those resources were not sufficient to support the fundamental programs and services required by Chickasaw people. For years we scraped by on the federal funds, always knowing we would eventually achieve our goals and begin marshaling our own resources.
Working together, the seeds we planted years ago now provide a great harvest.
The resources we generate from our commercial endeavors now provide the majority of our income. However, federal funds remain important. The Chickasaw Nation operates several programs funded in very large part by the federal government.
You have probably read in the national news about “sequestration,” an action that would affect the federal funds all tribes receive. The word “sequestration” is derived from the Latin “sequestrare,” which means “to set aside, surrender, remove or separate.” That is an apt definition of what could occur.
At the beginning of 2013, significant reductions in federal expenditures are due to automatically occur. At the same time, the deep federal income tax cuts initiated in 2003 are set to expire. Should these actions come to pass, it is expected federal revenue will jump while expenditures will decline. Some expenditures could be reduced by as much as 10 percent.
There is little doubt that if sequestration were to occur, much federal spending would be eliminated and important programs would face significant challenges. The sequestration question is very serious. No one, it may be argued, truly wants to decimate essential programs on which Americans rely daily. We are hopeful for a negotiated settlement of these tax and spending issues at the federal level.
Should sequestration occur, there is no doubt the result will affect all tribes. At the Chickasaw Nation, we are developing a plan that will lessen sequestration’s impact as much as possible. We are planning ahead and carefully weighing adjustments in future operations. The tribe must be fully prepared should sequestration occur. Our goal is to shield direct services and focus intently on our core mission of serving all Chickasaws well.
Together, we have faced countless challenges over the generations. We have persevered against tremendous odds, and have flourished. The sequestration issue presents another significant challenge. As always, we will meet this challenge, united as Chickasaw people and confident in our abilities.
