The Aerospace Industries Association is encouraging South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard to spread the word about the impact automatic spending cuts will have on states.
The National Governors Association convenes for its winter meeting in Washington, D.C. AIA issued a news release Friday urging Daugaard to use the high-profile gathering to communicate the negative impact of the sequestration because it could cost South Dakota more than 4,700 jobs.
The AIA says along with the potential jobs losses South Dakota could lose more than $470 million in gross state product.
According to AIA, South Dakota could lose 1,965 jobs from Department of Defense cuts, 2,738 from non-Department of Defense cuts and the state could lose 2,077 jobs from small businesses.
"If allowed to take effect, sequestration is going to impact every facet of American life from our national defense, to police on the streets, teachers in the classroom and doctors at our community health centers," said AIA President and CEO Marion C. Blakey.
Joe Kafka, Press Secretary in the Daugaard Administration, tells KSFY News the sequestration is one of the issues Governor Dennis Daugaard plans to bring up at the National Governors Association meeting. Kafka said he could not confirm the number of jobs AIA says would be lost. However, Kafka said the governor is gathering more information at the meeting and will express his concerns.
