Cliff Hanging - Part 2

Since the only input I got from Part 1 was from my cousin Mike then I'm going to go with his position as far as sacred cows go....nothing is off limits.  Now it's time for the next part of the experiment to see if ordinary citizens can come to a compromise on a budget.  Anyone else feel free to jump in at any point during this exercise and start playing.

Here's our first official list of agencies we're going to be working with. I also included descriptions of a couple of the agencies I was unfamiliar with. 

1. Social Security Administration
2. Department of Defense
3. Unemployment/Welfare/Medicaid
4.  Medicare
5. Health and Human Services
6. Department of Transportation
7. Department of Veterans Affairs
8. Department of State
9. HUD
10. Department of Education
11. Homeland Security
12. Department of Energy
13. Department of Agriculture
14. Department of Justice
15. NASA
16. Department of Commerce
17. Department of Labour
18. Department of Treasury
19. Department of Interior
20. EPA
21. IRS
22. National Science Foundation*
23. Corps of Engineers
24. National Infrastructure Bank**
25. Small Business Administration
26. GSA
27. Other (Identify)

 *National Science Foundation -  an independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting science and engineering through research programs and education projects
**National Infrastructure Bank - The bank identifies transportation, energy, and water infrastructure projects that lack funding, offer a clear benefit for taxpayers, and are worth at least $100 million or $25 million for rural projects.  Loans made by the bank are matched by private sector investments or money from local governments -- so that the infrastructure bank provides half or less than half the total funding.  Each project generates its own revenues to help ensure repayment of the loan.  Decisions are made by a seven-person board of governors -- of whom, no more than four could be from the same political party -- and a CEO chosen by the President.

For our next step you are each going to:

• Identify any agencies you feel should be eliminated all-together.
• Identify any agencies you feel need to be completely overhauled as in the agency needs restructured/refocused but not necessarily a major budget cut....let's say less than 50% of the agency budget.
• Identify any agencies you feel should be reduced in a significant amount...over 50% of the agency budget. 

Remember, you don't have to explain or justify any of your choices.  It's not like Congress makes any of their decisions based on sound fiscal logic.  Next week we'll see how our list looks after this elimination round and I will put some actual budget dollar amounts to the remaining agencies.

Here's my list.
Eliminate:

• Department of Education
• Homeland Security
• Department of Energy
• National Science Foundation
• National Endowment for the Arts

 Reduced:

• SSA
• HHS
• IRS
• Unemployment/Welfare/Medicaid

Restructured/Refocused:

• Everything else on the list.

Would still love to see more people taking part in this.