Political science
Humanities
Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
- Textbook: Review Chapter 2, 3 (pp. 56-59), 13
- Additional scholarly sources you identify through your own research
Question
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. Explain why you chose those cuts. You can also add new taxes, and/or cut existing taxes as well.
Note: These are not true US budget numbers.
|
DOMESTIC PROGRAMS AND FOREIGN AID |
Cut some foreign aid to African countries |
$17 billion |
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Eliminate farm subsidies |
$14 billion |
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Cut pay of civilian federal workers by 5 percent |
$14 billion |
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Reduce the overall federal workforce by 10% |
$12 billion |
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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 |
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Reduce military to pre-Iraq War size and further reduce troops in Asia and Europe |
$25 billion |
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Cancel or delay some weapons programs |
$19 billion |
|
HEALTHCARE |
Enact medical malpractice reform by reducing the chances of large malpractice verdicts |
$ 8 billion |
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Increase the Medicare eligibility age to 68 |
$ 8 billion |
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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 |
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End tax cuts for income above $250,000 a year |
$ 54 billion |
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$ 172 billion |
|
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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 |
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Add a national 5% sales tax |
$ 41 billion |
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Add a tax on carbon emissions |
$ 40 billion |
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Tax banks based on their sizes and the amount of risk they take. |
$ 73 billion |
|
Total gap covered by your budget plan |
$_________________ |
Use evidence (cite sources) to support your response from assigned readings, and at least one outside scholarly source.
