Other Proposals
Other proposals
Besides the Simpson Bowles plan, there are many other proposals. Here are some below.
| 1. Domenici Rivlin Plan |
| 2. The Heritage Foundation |
| 3. The Concord Coalition |
| 4. United We Stand Proposal (see below). |
United We Stand Proposal
To set the stage and show leadership:
- The President offers and requests that Congress pass budgets cutting his pay and that of his Cabinet Officers over 3 years by 20%(10% in 2015, 5% in 2016, and 5% in 2017).
- The Congress, in a like fashion, passes budgets cutting the pay of Congress by the same amount over 3 years (10% in 2015, 5% in 2016, and 5% in 2017). The 27th Amendment to the Constitution prohibits Congressional pay from varying until after another election. However, this can be overcome by legislation asking them to donate that portion of their salary back to the federal government each month. For those that do not make the donation, the same legislation could have their staff budgets cut by 2 times the amounts not donated as well as provide for a vehicle to publicize their staff cuts .
- Pass budgets cutting the pay of all other senior leaders in the 3 Branches of our Federal Government by 10% over 2 years (5% in 2015 and 5% in 2016).
To set the stage, show the seriousness of the predicament, and garner support for the rest of the program changes, pass legislation to:
- Continue to freeze all wages of all other federal workers for 3 years.
- Freeze Social Security payment rates for 3 years.
- Freeze all Medicare prices for 3 years
- Request that states freeze all Medicaid rates for 3 years.
- Freeze all other rates controlled by the Federal government for 3 years.
Set targets for deficit reduction, budget breakeven, and debt as a percentage of GDP and pass legislation to enforce the plan.
Propose, review and implement changes in all areas of the budget as required by the agreed plan:
- Propose, review, and implement tax changes.
- Propose, review, and implement expenditure changes in all programs.