Publication

The American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA) of 2012, averted much of what has become known as the fiscal cliff. The author states that the ARTA changes sequestration rules for the Department of Defense (DoD), effectively delaying budget cuts in this portfolio for the 2013 and 2014 fiscal years. The author argues that the measures of the ARTA suggest that sequestration is a relatively low priority. This is an early indicator of political priorities in the debate surrounding the US debt ceiling.