Presidential Advisor
Presidential Advisor:
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.
Note: These are not true US budget numbers.
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
 
$_________________
Use evidence (cite sources) to support your response from assigned readings or online lessons, and at least one outside scholarly source.
Political Theory and the Budget
Explain how a liberal and conservative would approach developing the US budget. Use evidence (cite sources) to support your response from assigned readings or online lessons, and at least one outside scholarly source
