Domestic Agenda and Budget of Obama - Essay Example

Obama’s budget indicates that the country’s deficit will increase this year to its highest post-World War II level, and then gradually decrease over the decade. The article indicates, however, that it will remain at ‘troublesome levels’. Obama argues that his budget will save over $1 trillion by ending the previous administration’s tax cuts and by enacting a three-year spending freeze. (the spending freeze won’t include spending on health programs, national security, and veteran’s programs) However, the article indicates that the savings are only, “one-fifth of the size of the debt that will pile up from now to 2020.”

Major areas of change will occur in tax cuts. Large budget spending on military equipment will be supplanted by spending on education and civilian research. Taxes among oil companies and affluent citizens will rise. Small businesses, however, will see large amounts of tax reductions over the next decade. Spending will continue on the proposed health care system and energy infrastructure.. Food and drug research and biomedical technology will also receive increased funding. While NASA’s budget will be further reduced, spending on science will rise as the National Science Foundation will receive, “$7.4 billion, a nearly 8 percent increase from the budget last year.”

While Republicans criticize Obama for the rising levels of debt, he argues that his administration will still maintain its goal of reducing the deficit in half before the end of his term in office. The article indicates that spending will necessarily rise towards the end of the decade with large amounts of retiring baby boomers. Increasing health costs are greatly centered around the Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Institute of Health, both of which are receiving multi-billion dollar increases in funding.      

The article contends that several of Obama’s proposed spending cuts may be difficult to enact in Congress. It all criticizes Obama for not, “make(ing) the really hard choices about entitlement programs — Medicare and Medicaid, especially — and about taxes that most budget analysts say are essential to cut annual deficits and to begin paying down an accumulated debt.” If enacted the health care reform would reportedly save large sums in Medicare; however, the budget indicates that Medicaid will be greatly expanded.

When considering debt the article indicates that by 2020 the United States’ debt will be roughly 77% of the GDP, a large majority of that money owed to China. This is the highest post-World War II figure, and it is continuing to rise.

The article indicates that several researchers argue raising taxes on Americans making less than $250,000 is a high possibility considering the fiscal situation; however, the administration counters by arguing this will not occur, and that even enacting such a policy would be impossible in the face of Republican opposition. Another key dimension of the President’s budget relies on the to-be-appointed bi-partisan commission that will enact further decreases in spending. Many researchers argue this may be difficult to achieve in the face of stark Republican opposition.