Preserving the American Dream: Fiscal Solutions for Our Future Preliminary Report

Nearly 200 registered voters from the Ohio 16 Congressional district and the surrounding areas gathered to engage and learn about the fiscal challenges facing the U.S. and potential solutions. Through the morning, participants heard an overview of the national budget, and possible reforms divided into 8 areas: Budget, Social Security Reforms, Health care, Medicare & Medicaid, Defense, Taxes, Transforming Government and Political Reforms.
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Strongsville, Ohio. September 15th, 2012

David Walker, CEO of Comeback America Initiative, and Dr. Isabel Sawhill, Senior Fellow of Brookings Institution, gave an overview presentation of the fiscal challenges the United States is facing. Stating it is a three pronged challenge: our short-term and structural debt and fiscal challenges are threatening the future of the U.S.; there are many key challenges and drivers; and getting control of our nations finances will require comprehensive solutions and bi-partisan actions. The primary drivers are aging population, rising health care costs, and insufficient revenues. Who Attended the Town Hall Meeting?
Participants demographics are compared with the demographics of Ohio Gender Female Male Age 18 - 24 25 - 34 35 - 44 45 - 54 55 - 64 65 and better How does the U.S. Debt Level compare to major European Nations Debt Level? Much Higher 20% Higher 37% About the Same 29% Lower 14% Much Lower 0% What best determines the size of the Federal Government? Taxes as a percentage of the economy 7% Number of Agencies 13% Number of Employees 8% Spending as a Percentage of the economy 71% What Percentage of Federal Spending is controlled by Congress Annually? About 35% 49% About 55% 23% About 75% 13% About 95% 16%

Race/Ethnicity African American American Indian Asian American Caucasian 85% Latino/Hispanic 2% Native Hawaiian 0% More than one race 4%

Sept 15 Census Household Income Sept 15 Census 6% 27% 57% 51% Under $25,000 43% 49% $25,000 to $50,000 17% 27% $50,000 to $75,000 30% 19% $75,000 to $100,000 17% 12% 6% 16% $100,000 or more 31% 15% 7% 15% 4% 16% Political Affiliation Sept 15 Compared to Other Major 35% Industrialize Countries, how 18% 19% Democrat 34% 16% Independent 29% high are U.S. taxes? 28% 30% 14% Republican Much Higher 8% Other 8% Higher 21% About the Same 8% 6% 12% How serious is the need to address Lower 54% 0% 0.2% the U.S. fiscal and debt challenge? Much Lower 4% Pre Overview Post 3% 1.6% 81% 3% 0% 2% Very serious Somewhat serious Undecided Not very serious Not at all serious 79% 15% 5% 0% 0%

90% How do we solve the nations deficit and debt problem? 7% Only Cutting Spending 2% Only Raising Taxes 1% Nothing, it will take care of itself 0% Combination of Spending Cuts and Tax Increase

23% 1% 0% 76%

The Full Report will be posted at http://keepingamericagreat.org

Budgeting: Congress should be required to pass detailed budget and spending bills on time Strongly agree 88% Agree 7% Undecided 2% Disagree 3% Strongly Disagree 0% Budgeting Reforms: 1. Enact No Budget, No Pay 2. Recapture Control over the Budget (limits on almost all spending) 3. Reform Federal Budget Controls (pay-as you-go rules; debt to GDP targets To what extent do you support or not support these Budget Reforms Strongly Support 56% Somewhat Support 34% Undecided 5% Somewhat Do Not Support 5% Strongly Do Not Support 1%

Social Security should be made solvent by: Only Reducing Benefits 15% Only Raising Taxes 11% A Combination of Raising Taxes and Reducing Benefits 69% Leaving it Alone 6%

Social Security Reforms: 1. Raise the taxable wagebase cap 2. Gradually raise the retirement eligibility ages 3. Revise benefit structure based on income

To what extent do you support or not support these Social Security Reforms Strongly Support 47% Somewhat Support 29% Undecided 11% Somewhat Do Not Support 7% Strongly Do Not Support 5%

Health Care: The government should provide some level of

health care coverage for all citizens. Strongly Support Somewhat Support Undecided Somewhat Do Not Support Strongly Do Not Support
47% 20% 7% 13% 14%

Medicare & Medicaid: There should be a budget limit on

federal Medicare & Medicaid spending Strongly Support Somewhat Support Undecided Somewhat Do Not Support Strongly Do Not Support
41% 35% 12% 5% 8%

Health Care Reforms:

1. 2. 3. 4. Basic Level of health coverage for all citizens Revise payment practices to be more evidence based Phase out the tax exclusion for employer provided health insurance Reform medical malpractice laws

Medicare & Medicaid Reforms:

1. 2. 3. Impose an annual budget for Medicare spending Make Medicare premium subsidies more income based Fund Medicaid through Block Grants to States

To what extent do you support or not support these Health Care Reforms? Strongly Support 43% Somewhat Support 41% Undecided 6% Somewhat Do Not Support 5% Strongly Do Not Support 5%

To what extent do you support or not support these Medicare & Medicaid Reforms? Strongly Support 36% Somewhat Support 43% Undecided 8% Somewhat Do Not Support 8% Strongly Do Not Support 6%

Taxes: The Tax Code should be reformed (both individual and Defense: We can reduce Defense spending in a way that does
not compromise our national security Strongly Support Somewhat Support Undecided Somewhat Do Not Support Strongly Do Not Support
67% 21% 6% 3% 3%

corporate) to make taxes simpler and fairer while also increasing tax revenue. Strongly Support 76% Somewhat Support 13% Undecided 4% Somewhat Do Not Support 2% Strongly Do Not Support 4%

Defense Reforms:
1. 2. 3. 4. Require consideration of cost in defense planning Right-size our force structure, footprint, and the Pentagon bureaucracy Reform current acquisition and contracting practices Modernize current compensation and benefits practices

Tax Reforms:
1. 2. Broaden individual income tax base by eliminating loopholes Make income tax more inclusive and progressive by asking everyone to pay something but the wealthy to pay more Make the corporate tax code more competitive

3.

To what extent do you support or not support these Defense Reforms Strongly Support 65% Somewhat Support 25% Undecided 3% Somewhat Do Not Support 4% Strongly Do Not Support 3%

To what extent do you support or not support these Tax Reforms Strongly Support 52% Somewhat Support 34% Undecided 3% Somewhat Do Not Support 7% Strongly Do Not Support 4%