Official October 2005 Budget Thread

[Defarge]

Current Information:

As stands from July:

PROPOSED BUDGET
$2,431.029 Billion

PROJECTED REVENUES
$1,995.026 Billion

PROJECTED BUDGET DEFICIT
$436.003 Billion

PROJECTED GDP
$11.057 Trillion
To be within the 2% of GDP requirement as required by the Constitution, the Budget Deficit would need to be reduced to:

$221.140 Billion

July's Budget:

Final update:

The Atlasian Budget FY 2006[/b]

Branches of Government:
1.   Legislative Branch:  $3.900 billion (-$0.476 billion)
2.   Judicial Branch:  $6.042 billion (-$0.001 billion)
3.      Executive Branch:
         a.  Executive Office of the President:  $0.342 billion
         b.  General Services Administration:  $0.210 billion (-$0.020 billion)
         c.  Other Independent Agencies:  $10.402 billion (-$6.682 billion)
Total:  $27.688 billion

Cabinet Departments

1.      Defense and Security Department:  $627.627 billion
         a.  Corps of Engineers – Civil Works:  $0 (-$3.989 billion)
         b.  Defense Sub-Dept. (military):  $432.853 billion (+$30.220 billion)
         c.  Energy Sub-Dept.:  $20.718 billion (-$1.380 billion)
         d.  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):  $7.636 billion
         e.  Homeland Security Sub-Dept.:  $31.414 billion
         f.   Interior Sub-Dept.:  $10.596 billion (+$0.005 billion)
         g.  National Aeronautics and Space Administration:  $16.245 billion
         h.  Other Defense Civil Programs:  $40.480 billion (-$0.025 billion)
         i.   Veterans Affairs Sub-Dept.:  $65.285 billion

2.  Treasury and Social Services Department  $1,856.201 billion ($1.9 trillion)
         a.  Agriculture Sub-Dept.:  $56.783 billion (-$15.500 billion)
         b.  Commerce Sub-Dept:  $4.989 billion (-$0.848 billion)
         c.  Education Sub-Dept.:  $56.434 billion (-$10 billion)
         d.  Health and Human Services Sub-Dept.:  $571.589 billion
         e.  Housing and Urban Development Sub-Dept.:  $34.042 billion
         f.   Labor Sub-Dept.:  $57.321 billion
         g.  National Science Foundation:  $5.770 billion
         h.  Office of Personnel Management:  $57.688 billion (-$6 billion)
         i.   Small Business Administration:  $0 (-$0.681 billion)
         j.   Social Security Administration:  $555.031 billion
         k.  Transportation Sub-Dept.:  $58.098 billion (-$0.278 billion)
         l.   Treasury Sub-Dept.:  $396.456 billion (-$0.055 billion)

3.  Justice Dept:  $17.801 billion (-$3.975 billion)

4.  State and International Affairs Dept.  $21.132 billion
         a.  State Sub-Dept.:  $10.903 billion (+0.010 billion)
         b.  International Assistance Programs:  $10.229 billion (-$8.996 billion)

Total:  $2,543.657 billion ($2.54 trillion)

Allowances:  -$0.798 billion

Total (BA):  $2,542.859 billion ($2.60 trillion)
Offsetting Receipts:  $111.204 billion

PROPOSED BUDGET
$2,431.655 Billion[/b][/i]
PROJECTED REVENUES
$1,971.000 Billion[/i]
PROJECTED BUDGET DEFICIT
$460.655 Billion[/i]

Propose your spending cuts, we'll debate them, we'll vote on them.  Meanwhile, be aware that we can shift money around if neccessary.

I am not a numbers cruncher.  If you give me a massive bill of spending cuts, it would be greatly appreciated if you compiled what the budget would look like after the spending cuts. 

[Defarge]

For the record, here is DanielX's massive cutting bill

1. The Elimination of Medicaid Act :
a. Over the next eight months (RL years), the budget for federal budget for Medicaid shall be cut by 12.5%.
b. All acts pertaining to the Medicaid program are to be repealed at the end of this program.
c. $200 million per budget cycle shall be dedicated to assisting the the states in providing their own programs, should they choose to do so.

2. The Department of Education Budget Reduction Act

a. The Federal Department of Education shall have its budget slashed by 90%, starting this cycle. State aid to education shall also be slashed 90%.
b. The Treasury Department will determine how these cuts are enacted.

3.  The Elimination of the Department of Commerce Act

a. The Department of Commerce is hereby eliminated.
b. Any laws relating to the Department of Commerce are repealed.

4. The Elimination of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act

a. The Department of Housing and Urban Development is hereby eliminated.
b. Any laws relating to the Department of Housing and Urban Development are repealed.

5. Department of Defense Budget Reduction Act

 All non-emergency spending initiatives in the Department of Defense shall have their budgets reduced by 5%.

6. Office of Personell Management Budget Reduction Act

The budget of the Office of Personnel Management shall be slashed 15%.

7.  Department of Agriculture Budget Reduction Act
The budget of the Department of Agriculture shall be slashed 75%.

8. Environmental Protection Agency Budget Reduction Act
The budget of the Environmental Protection Agency shall be slashed 50%.

9. NASA Auction Act
a. the Federal Government shall offer the civilian portion of the National Aeronautics and Space Agency for auction to bidding individuals, foundations, and corporations in the United States.
b. if NASA as a whole is to be placed on auction, the starting bid shall be $10 billion; if it is to be auctioned piece-by-piece, the combined total of starting bids shall be $10 billion.
 
10. Department of Labor Budget Reduction Act
The budget for the Department of Labor shall be slashed 50%.

[Gabu]

Here's what the budget will look like after DanielX's, er... proposal:

The Atlasian Budget FY 2006

Branches of Government:
1.   Legislative Branch:  $3.900 billion (-$0.476 billion)
2.   Judicial Branch:  $6.042 billion (-$0.001 billion)
3.      Executive Branch:
         a.  Executive Office of the President:  $0.342 billion
         b.  General Services Administration:  $0.210 billion (-$0.020 billion)
         c.  Other Independent Agencies:  $10.402 billion (-$6.682 billion)
Total:  $27.688 billion

Cabinet Departments

1.      Defense and Security Department:  $583.521 billion
         a.  Corps of Engineers – Civil Works:  $0 (-$3.989 billion)
         b.  Defense Sub-Dept. (military):  $411.210 billion (+$8.577 billion)
         c.  Energy Sub-Dept.:  $20.718 billion (-$1.380 billion)
         d.  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):  $3.818 billion (-$3.818 billion)
         e.  Homeland Security Sub-Dept.:  $31.414 billion
         f.   Interior Sub-Dept.:  $10.596 billion (+$0.005 billion)
         g.  National Aeronautics and Space Administration:  $0 (-$16.245 billion)
         h.  Other Defense Civil Programs:  $40.480 billion (-$0.025 billion)
         i.   Veterans Affairs Sub-Dept.:  $65.285 billion

2.  Treasury and Social Services Department  $1,659.749 billion ($1.7 trillion)
         a.  Agriculture Sub-Dept.:  $14.196 billion (-$58.087 billion)
         b.  Commerce Sub-Dept:  $0 (-$5.837 billion)
         c.  Education Sub-Dept.:  $5.663 billion (-$60.971 billion)
         d.  Health and Human Services Sub-Dept.:  $546.840 billion (-$24.750 billion)
         e.  Housing and Urban Development Sub-Dept.:  $0 (-$34.042 billion)
         f.   Labor Sub-Dept.:  $28.661 billion (-$28.660 billion)
         g.  National Science Foundation:  $5.770 billion
         h.  Office of Personnel Management:  $49.034 billion (-$15.341 billion)
         i.   Small Business Administration:  $0 (-$0.681 billion)
         j.   Social Security Administration:  $555.031 billion
         k.  Transportation Sub-Dept.:  $58.098 billion (-$0.278 billion)
         l.   Treasury Sub-Dept.:  $396.456 billion (-$0.055 billion)

3.  Justice Dept:  $17.801 billion (-$3.975 billion)

4.  State and International Affairs Dept.  $21.132 billion
         a.  State Sub-Dept.:  $10.903 billion (+0.010 billion)
         b.  International Assistance Programs:  $10.229 billion (-$8.996 billion)

Total:  $2,307480 billion ($2.31 trillion)

Allowances:  -$0.798 billion

Total (BA):  $2,306.681 billion ($2.31 trillion)
Offsetting Receipts:  $111.204 billion

PROPOSED BUDGET
$2,195.478 Billion
PROJECTED REVENUES
$1,971.000 Billion
PROJECTED BUDGET DEFICIT
$224.478 Billion

Amazingly, for being a "chainsaw" budget cutting bill, it doesn't actually quite bring us to an acceptable deficit.

[True Democrat]

May I suggest cutting from the Agriculture Sub-Department?

[Gabu]

May I suggest cutting from the Agriculture Sub-Department?

Actually, DanielX's bill did that, and I missed it; that has now been fixed.

The deficit would still not be low enough even with that, though.

[The Duke]

Amazingly, for being a "chainsaw" budget cutting bill, it doesn't actually quite bring us to an acceptable deficit.

I'm gonna let you all in on a little secret.  Without a tax increase and/or draconian cuts, you'll never make it.  Here you have draconian cuts and still come up short.

[Sam Spade]

The effects on the budget of this bill looks correct to me. (Gabu's version)

[Sam Spade]

Amazingly, for being a "chainsaw" budget cutting bill, it doesn't actually quite bring us to an acceptable deficit.

I'm gonna let you all in on a little secret.  Without a tax increase and/or draconian cuts, you'll never make it.  Here you have draconian cuts and still come up short.

I'm guessing the John Ford answer would be an amendment repealing the balanced budget part of the Constitution, correct?

[Gabu]

Amazingly, for being a "chainsaw" budget cutting bill, it doesn't actually quite bring us to an acceptable deficit.

I'm gonna let you all in on a little secret.  Without a tax increase and/or draconian cuts, you'll never make it.  Here you have draconian cuts and still come up short.

I know, let's abolish the Department of Defense.

[Brandon H]

Can anything be cut from Health and Human Services or Social Security?

Is there anyway (realistically) to get more details on the DoJ's budget or at least an explanation on where that number comes from?

[DanielX]

Even more Chainsawing, just to throw a few billion more into the fire:

1. Department of State Budget Reduction Act

The Department of State's Budget shall be reduced by an additional 10%, including aid to foreign countries.

2. Health and Human Services Budget Reduction Act

All HHS programs funded via the Internal Revenue Service and normal tax revenue (as opposed to the Medicare tax) shall see their budgets reduced by 25%.

3. Legislative Branch Budget Reduction Act

The Legislative Branch shall see a budget reduction of 33%.

4. National Science Foundation Budget Reduction Act

The budget of the National Science Foundation shall be reduced by $ 1 billion.

5. Department of Energy Budget Reduction Act

The budget of the Department of Energy shall be reduced by 20%.

[Platypus]

Guys, kick and scream if you want, but we need more revenue.

I think income tax is high enough, and we shouldn't force Atlasians to pay more tax.

So, how about a Goods and Services Tax? It can be voluntary, in that we make 'necessities' tax free; ie basic food, maybe clothing, rent etc.; but a 10% GST on luxuries (imported cars over a certain price, massages, imported foodstuffs, etc.) and 5% on other goods and services? It'll harm the economy, sure. But so will yet another massive budget deficit.

We need to increase revenue.

We shouldn't increase income tax.

We must therefore go with a Goods and Services Tax.

I'll support social spending cuts (not as large as Daniel's, obviously), something I wish wasn't necessary. I know many of us wish that raising taxes wasn't necessary, and maybe it'll hurt our chances at re-election, but it has to be done, and a GST is the fairest way to do it.

[Jake]

Sam, can you compile what revenue would look like with a 1% increase among all tax brackets?

[The Duke]

Amazingly, for being a "chainsaw" budget cutting bill, it doesn't actually quite bring us to an acceptable deficit.

I'm gonna let you all in on a little secret.  Without a tax increase and/or draconian cuts, you'll never make it.  Here you have draconian cuts and still come up short.

I'm guessing the John Ford answer would be an amendment repealing the balanced budget part of the Constitution, correct?

I didn't vote for the Amendment and I wouldn't vote to keep it.  We cut and cut and cut, and each time we cut we find we've made no progress because the economy keeps shrinking as revenue keeps drying up.  Cutting spending won't balance the budget, and balancing the budget won't save our economy.

[The Duke]

I intend to remove myself from Senate debates, but not public debates, because I am not a Senator.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Hmm... interesting. Very interesting. I had a suspicion it would work out like this, but not quite so bad.

Well then... what exactly are we going to do now? It seems that we can't cut our way out of the problem and I am convinced that we can't tax our way out of it either; right now we need consumers to go out unto the shops and spend as much money as possible.

Time to face up to reality and make some hard decisions

[MasterJedi]

I could go for some cuts and a small tax raise. I also will support Gabu's amendment which he introduced that makes it so the budget doesn't have to be balanced.

[CheeseWhiz]

I hope I'm not out of place in asking this, but what does the Health and Human Services Department do exactly?  I just wondered because it's what we're spending the most on.

[The Duke]

I hope I'm not out of place in asking this, but what does the Health and Human Services Department do exactly?  I just wondered because it's what we're spending the most on.

Medicaid and Medicare.

[CheeseWhiz]

I hope I'm not out of place in asking this, but what does the Health and Human Services Department do exactly?  I just wondered because it's what we're spending the most on.

Medicaid and Medicare.

Thanks John!

Now, let's abolish it

[DanielX]

INSANE CHAINSAW BUDGET BILL

1. The Department of Health and Human Services is hereby abolished.

2. Any surplus resulting from this shall be distributed evenly to all working adults earning less then $100,000 during FY2005, and to all seniors currently on Medicare or Medicaid.

(even if that's 100 million people, that's close to $1,000 per person!).

[CheeseWhiz]

YAY!  Go Daniel!

P.S. It was stupid of me to challenge you   If I win PB's seat, we can become great allies in the senate!

[Filuwaúrdjan]

According to the Official Secret Senatorial Procedural Resolution (s. 1458b, clause 545(iii), 14th line) you aren't supposed to plot openly. Please do it in the traditionally "vauge" form as specified by s.1458c, clause 42 (vi), 1st line, 2nd line and 78th line...

"I wish we hadn't had that row. Maybe we shall become friends once I steal this chair made in Iowa"

[CheeseWhiz]

Me, plotting?  No...  You must be mistaken *quickly puts super-secret world-dominating plans behind back* We're not plotting anything!

[DanielX]

More Chainsawing

Abolishment of Indian Affairs Act

1. The Department of Indian Affairs is hereby eliminated.

2. The Indian Health Service is hereby eliminated.