Comment: 1-Eliminate The Department of Education (Has education improved since it was created?) 2-Eliminate The Department of Energy (Has the price of fuel came down since it was created? Are we energy independent since its creation?)

It is incredible ironic that on the same day this question was asked, the S&P downgraded the credit rating of the United States. In a statement, Standard & Poor's said: "It appears that for now, new revenues have dropped down on the menu of policy options. In addition, the plan envisions only minor policy changes on Medicare and little change in other entitlements, the containment of which we and most other independent observers regard as key to long-term fiscal sustainability." "Compared with previous projections, our revised base case scenario now assumes that the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, due to expire by the end of 2012, remain in place. We have changed our assumption on this because the majority of Republicans in Congress continue to resist any measure that would raise revenues, a position we believe Congress reinforced by passing the act." Given that the S&P based their decision (with a negative outlook for the next 6 to 24 months, I might add) on the political brinksmanship, failure to compromise and the removal of increased revenue possibilities, wouldn't it be wise to fix those problems too? Maybe this time around, we can cut some real spending from the budget and find ways to increase revenues? That sounds like a real plan to debt management - after all, it's what all of us have to do.

I temped for the IRS, and was impressed at how diligent the management was about getting its moneys' worth...but they had two supervisors over our 15 man section. One was the technical expert, who could help us decipher a specific point of tax law, but the other one, didn't do anything except give us evals. Those were copmputer generated, so I don't know that he did any productive work at all. Went to a lot of meetings. My point is, I severely question the number and levels of management at government agencies. Good luck.

SOME CHANGES I request you DISCUSS: one of these will smack at people becoming professional politicians. I could live w/ it's just tooting of how much I brought back to the district instead of tooting how we are saving and caring out our responsibilities, similar to what a private business owner is doing to cut cost. - require each tax payer write his or her own check for taxes- monthly. require employers to furnish: the employee along w/check a copy of tax information he should pay. and copy of same to the government - of information given employee. -cut taxes use the statement from our constitution – for what we must do- --- to provide for national defense and international trade. -cut spending, see above -eliminate pensions for elected officials, this will eliminate an official from wanting To continue seeking office -Start legislation to limit - 2 terms limit for senators and 3 terms for legislators. This will encourage participation -Return government to the states- Allows for more self government -eliminate limo’s for any government official, allow them to ride in a chevy or ford They can have tinted windows -return the education department to states -cut soc. Security benefits to start at 67 for someone who is physically fit to Work, like me. -eliminate PBS- bid off to commercial public tv stations the service now provided By mine and your taxes. -Sell public properties. - Eliminate registered ( architects or engineers) from working for federal government as salaried professionals. Contract for services For specific times or projects. Charles Holland, Architect 850-455-4345 email: wcholland@cox.net

Well, I believe as multitudes of my fellow Americans, that we simply need to cut every incumbent Congress man/woman that we can out of government in the next election that has shown they are more concerned with their "political gaming" than the health of this country and the welfare of it's citizens. And boy it looks to me like we've got an awful lot of cutting to do...especially in the Republican camp.

The current salary (2011) for rank-and-file members of the House and Senate is $174,000 per year that needs to be cut to a much lower amount while an E-9 with 30 years of service only receives $78,324 per year. Match the salaries to the maximum enlisted pay and tie all future raises to the same rate that the military receives. Cut all foreign aid to the countries that are not friendly with us. Increase excise and luxury taxes to 3 times the rate they are at now. Revamp the welfare system to remove those that should not be receiving the benefits, include a monthly drug test to all recipients of the a fore mentioned benefits. Implement a national Value Added Tax to all items and services. Remove the provisions in the IRS that allow cooperation's to be based in the country yet pay little to now income taxes on their worldwide income to the US. Leave the Social Security System alone and put back the funds that were used for other programs in the past, if congress had never taken the funds out it would not be in the shape that it is in now.

Cancel Defense program JTRS AMF SA. On-going schedule and cost issues make this a prime candidate for cancellation during these austere times.

Cut out the unconstitutionally configured epa, federal education and trim down the irs to only it's competent employees. We need environmental protection, but they should not have any authority which can not be contested in court. We need better education for our kids, but it should come from the parents first, with state independence on standards. If there should be a national standard, it should be conprised of members from the 50 states, not isolated socialists in Washington, D.C.

All congress benefits should be eliminated. Why should the citizens that can't afford health care be forced to have our tax dollars used on useless congress members? The 28th Amendment should be created to cut spending: Congress shall receive no benefits that every other American citizen isn't entitled to.

Cut all Federal programs by 10 per cent. This would not include the military. Why? Because under the Constitution the Federal Government is required to protect the States. That should be the last program cut. Instead it is the first to be cut and social programs not listed in the Constitution are expanded and untouchable. The original Commerce law must be addressed and clarified. It was never suppose to give unlimited power to the government.

If we're going to balance the budget and reduce the debt, we have a lot of cutting to do.

etan W said to eliminate all congress benifits, ok that takes car of what .001% of what needs to be cut. Instead i say that Congress get the same hbenifits as the military, health and retirement... sounds fair right? then cut all federal programs by 1% yeah just 1% that would be a good start... then take a look at acusitions how the government buys form certain companies and not other even though it costs more, i don't do bussiness like that and niether should our government. I understand less expensive doesn't neccisarily mean that it still meets the requirement, so their needs to be a new set of spending rules for all agencies and oh hey why not give the agencies some insentive if they come in under budget. and if they do don't say well thats what they spent last year so thats all they need this year (punishing them for saving money). let the agencies tell you what they need and allow them flexability and challenge them to try to beat that goal by saving money.

I think to balance the budget and reduce the debt, Eliminate The Department of Energy and find ways to increase revenues.

Get Iraq to pay us for the liberation and our rebuilding and war cost. If they won't pay us then make them, take it they owe us plenty for there liberation. Even if the war was based on lies WMD's . I think the department of Education should be greatly cut,HUD gives houses away free to the life time welfair lazy who just have babys by anybody to get AFDC and food stamps and free housing. It should have a two year limit, a hand up not a hand out to the ignorant lazy who think the tax payers owe them a living and life of being lazy. TSA should be done away with, it it the resposibility of the airlines and airports to insure airline travels safety. Not the american tax payer. They pay insurance to pay for things that happen to people who use the airlines and stop them from being sued. Cut all forgine aid we can not afford. Before one american looses there job to pay the debt all forgine aid should be cut, Forginers and forgine countrys do not pay taxes in this country, americans do, so before any american gets cut and looses there job all forgine aid should be cut, all programs. Why are we borrowing money from China to give to forgine countrys that play us for fools. The do nothing congress should get paid nothing, no work no pay. The government is way to top heavy with SES department heads and assistants, to may Chiefs that do nothing in government, it's way to top heavy especally in Washington D.C. to many highly paid political apointees that know little about there positions and are just higly paid croneys that do nothing. Cut substies to oil companys and farmers we owe them nothing of our tax moneys. Out law lobbiest and pass the line Item veto and term limits. Stop all these grants and end affermative action , Vets earn a great government hiring preference not one color or sex, Government hiring preference should go to those who did something for ther country not just because the are born a black woman. Go in a government office and see what the NNCP and EEO has done the government is disporshanitly Black it should be a cross section of socity not mainly minortys of certain color. Vets do something for our country and should be the first hired by our government not the last.

I see many good ideas here for cutting the deficit. Many of which are common sense approaches to cutting spending. But I don't see common sense being applied anywhere in our legislative body. It's all a complete joke. We are in tough times that need tough measures, and yet no real measures are taken. With today's political climate, I see the only way politicians will make the tough call is when the whole thing collapses around us. Is this the course we're on? It sure seems so! History tells us that this isn't a good place to be. So, who in their right mind keeps spending on frivolous pork when its obvious to everyone that spending cuts are what's in order? Who raises taxes on those still able to pay when job and business growth is what's needed to increase tax revenue. The way I see it, Congress is complicit in creating the mess this country is in through its many bad decisions concerning business... i.e. Freddie and Fannie. Now they want a bailout from the American people through higher taxes. They should start with a focus on eliminating the fraud and abuse of the entitlement programs. And that means government's own fraud and abuse of all government programs... i.e. Social Security. We are in crisis mode here, yet politicians still treat it as a way to get their political jabs and pet projects in. What's wrong with this picture? What's going on here?

I have to agree with John Greely and Ethan W...congressman should be paid as much as the military but only for the hours worked .....Congress should replace the money stolen from the SS and Madicare funds ....I think also the we need regulations and gun control .....stop lying about the second amendment ....it does not protect military style weapons .....post Justice Scalia's argument .....educate people ......stop being a poppet for the NRA