Initial Post Instructions
You are an advisor to the President tasked with cutting at least $300 billion from the budget. The president wants your recommendations to cut lines, not large categories. Submit your recommendations and your reasoning for such recommendations using these guidelines:
– Use evidence (cite sources) to support your recommendations from assigned readings or online lessons, and at least one outside scholarly source.
– Use the format provided below to present your numbers and totals followed by an explanation below the chart.
– Please note that these are not true US budget numbers, but are reasonable hypothetical numbers to help us consider the budget processes complexities.
DOMESTIC PROGRAMS AND FOREIGN AID
Cut some foreign aid to African countries
$17 billion
Eliminate farm subsidies
$14 billion
Cut pay of civilian federal workers by 5 percent
$14 billion
Reduce the overall federal workforce by 10%
$12 billion
Cut aid to states by 5%
$29 billion
MILITARY
Cut the number of nuclear warheads, and end the “Star Wars” missile defense program
$19 billion
Reduce military to pre-Iraq War size and further reduce troops in Asia and Europe
$25 billion
Cancel or delay some weapons programs
$19 billion
HEALTHCARE
Enact medical malpractice reform by reducing the chances of large malpractice verdicts
$ 8 billion
Increase the Medicare eligibility age to 68
$ 8 billion
Raise the Social Security retirement age to 68.
$ 13 billion
EXISTING TAXES
Return the estate tax to Clinton-era levels, passing on an estate worth more than $1 million to their heirs would have portions of those estates taxed.
$ 50 billion
End tax cuts for income above $250,000 a year
$ 54 billion
End tax cuts for income below $250,000 a year
$ 172 billion
Payroll tax increase for people making over $106,000 annually contributing more to Social Security and Medicare.
$ 50 billion
NEW TAXES
Institute a Millionaire’s tax on income above $1 million
$ 50 billion
Add a national 5% sales tax
$ 41 billion
Add a tax on carbon emissions
$ 40 billion
Tax banks based on their sizes and the amount of risk they take.
$ 73 billion
Total gap covered by your budget plan
$_________________
