Topic: The Politics and Policy of Taxes and Deficit Spending.

As you have seen, public budgeting is inherently political. Indeed, it is driven by an acutely political cycle: For example: 1) Politicians promise benefits in order to get elected; 2) Those promised benefits often come at high expense; 3) If campaign promises are to be kept, taxes must be raised or reorganized in order to transfer and transform private wealth into government revenue to cover those expenses; 4) Individuals losing wealth through higher taxes may seek to remove from office the politicians that raised their taxes, and so on. In light of this cycle, many individuals, institutions, political challengers and think tanks may work to hold elected officials accountable for their public budgeting decisions. For this discussion, you will provide and explain an example of political strategies used to hold elected officials accountable for taxing/spending policy and an example of a political strategy used by politicians to avoid the potentially negative consequences of deficit spending or tax increases.  
 

Submit your threads by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Thursday and your replies by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Sunday.

400-500 words

Module’s Readings, Study Materials, and any additional scholarly citations in APA format.  

Scripture & Prayer

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: ( Isaiah 41:10)

Week 3 Lecture: The Politics of Spending

Actual spending on programs depends on (1) strategy (2) program structure, and (3) environment.

The level of debate for spending, the level of adaptability and caution, and the amount of control all shift with the program structure

One Approach at the national and state level, has been to diminish adaptability and to put spending on programmed pilot. However, this approach could ultimately create a budgetary deficiency.

Budgeting successfully for program spending, requires a different set of skills

These skills employ a policy analysis technique because the point of control is in the program design, not the annual spending numbers

Planning effectively for program spending requires a substantial approach of examining the program design. 

For example, additional spending in one budget category may reduce expenses in another category

Providing services such as public transportation housing and schools could lower costs and other expenses.

Similarly, mandating pollution control and awareness could lower health care expenses. Additionally, providing educational services and training could likewise reduce unemployment insurance, welfare, courts and jails.

New Policies such as the government Performance and Results Act highlights the necessity of evaluating and measuring program objective and execution

The end results of evaluations and measuring tools is to assist budgeters with arriving at creative ideas beyond the original program goals.

The Politics of Spending 

Student Resources

· For Information on state governments transparency endeavors, visit Following the Money 2012: How the 50 States Rate in Providing Online Access to Government Spending Data.

· For information on the Federal Government transparency visit USAspending.gov