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
 
 
 
$_________________
 
 
 
Follow-Up Post Instructions
 
Respond to at least one peer. Further the dialogue by providing more information and clarification. Are the budget changes offered by your peers’ sound? Why or why not? Minimum of 1 scholarly source, which can include your textbook or assigned readings or may be from your additional scholarly research.