Proponents of deficit reduction argue that governments who do not control budget deficits and debt are at risk of losing their ability to borrow money at affordable rates. Opponents of deficit reduction argue that government spending would increase demand for goods and services and help avert a dangerous fall into deflation, a downward spiral in wages and prices that can cripple an economy for years.
63% Yes |
37% No |
56% Yes |
23% No |
5% Yes, and eliminate federal agencies that are unconstitutional |
7% No, increase taxes on large multinational corporations instead |
1% Yes, and increase taxes |
4% No, reduce military spending instead |
0% Yes, but by drastically reducing the benefits and salaries of government officials |
2% No, cuts to public spending will negatively affect the economy |
1% No, increase taxes on the wealthy instead |
|
0% No, focus on ending tax evasion instead |
|
0% No, reduce the number of government officials instead |
See how support for each position on “Government Spending” has changed over time for 13.7m America voters.
Loading data...
Loading chart...
See how importance of “Government Spending” has changed over time for 13.7m America voters.
Loading data...
Loading chart...
Unique answers from America users whose views extended beyond the provided choices.
@92JWXW72yrs2Y
No, reduce the amount of government officials instead. We should also focus on ending tax evasion too. Cuts to public spending will negatively affect the economy.
@8FTVLYP4yrs4Y
Essentially yes. But other things need to be done. Increase taxes on top income bracket, eliminate deductions and loopholes on taxes for large corporations, reduce military spending and police budgets.
@8D7X8VB4yrs4Y
Yes, replace many gov programs such as welfare with UNIVERSAL INCOME. too much waste in government spending and programs.
@8JCJLWV4yrs4Y
Changes are needed but this is a very complicated question
@8W6XWGK3yrs3Y
Yes, but only where there is unnecessary spending in public funds.
@92C5M7S2yrs2Y
No, reduce the amount of government officials instead. We should also focus on ending tax evasion too. Also cuts to public spending will negatively affect the economy.
Stay up-to-date on the most recent “Government Spending” news articles, updated frequently.
@ISIDEWITH22hrs22H
Mayor Muriel Bowser attended the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Ga. over the weekend, and municipal money was used for travel expenses, according to a spokeswoman for the mayor.According to the mayor’s schedule, sent to media outlets Saturday, “Mayor Bowser will travel to Augusta, Georgia, as part of a sports and economic development visit.”In a phone call Monday afternoon, Bowser’s Communications Director Susana Castillo said the mayor attended the Masters, after she was invited by two people spearheading a new city task force, “to revitalize the Gallery Place and Chinatown neighborhood.”Castillo said Bowser accepted an invite to attend the golf tournament by chairs of ‘Task Force to Shape Future of Gallery Place/Chinatown Neighborhood’ Jodie McLean and Deborah Ratner Salzberg.When asked why the mayor needed to travel to Augusta — nearly 500 miles from D.C. as the crow flies — Castillo said “whether it’s here in the city or another city or another country,” the mayor is willing to advance administrative interests no matter the setting.DC News Now asked Castillo how the mayor paid to visit Georgia Saturday, and she said city funds were used for flights but did not specify the cost and that we would have to file a Freedom of Information Act request to find an answer.Former D.C. mayor and current Councilman Vincent Gray told DC News Now Tuesday that he sees “no controversy” with Mayor Bowser attending the Masters after our report was published Monday.“As mayor, I frequently attended meetings and events to foster economic development, strengthen partnerships, and build rapport with people interested in investing in our city. I met with people in countless venues, be they overseas, in downtown DC conference rooms, or sometimes at high-profile gatherings. I see no controversy in travel that is intended to promote the District in furtherance of opportunity that benefits residents and local businesses,” Gray said in a statement.Last November, the mayor’s office announced Bowser would travel to Dubai in the Middle East “as part of the US Conference of Mayors delegation for the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference.”
@ISIDEWITH1 day1D
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders is facing intense scrutiny over her administration's purchase of a $19,000 podium, sparking a heated debate among lawmakers and raising questions about the legality of the acquisition. An audit report has brought to light several potential breaches of Arkansas law, putting the governor's spending decisions under the microscope. The controversy centers around the use of state funds to buy a customized lectern, complete with a carrying case, a move that critics argue could violate state procurement laws and guidelines for the use of public resources.The issue came to a head during a recent legislative session where lawmakers grilled representatives from the governor's office and the Attorney General's office. The intense questioning aimed to uncover the rationale behind the purchase and whether proper procedures were followed. The audit's findings have fueled a broader conversation about fiscal responsibility and transparency in the governor's office, with many calling for stricter oversight of government spending.Supporters of Governor Sanders have defended the purchase, citing the need for high-quality equipment for official state business. However, opponents see it as an extravagant expenditure that could have been avoided, especially given the state's other pressing financial needs. The controversy has not only sparked a legal and ethical debate but also highlighted the challenges of balancing public expectations with the realities of governing.As the investigation into the lectern purchase continues, the outcome could have significant implications for Governor Sanders' administration. The scrutiny over this single expenditure reflects broader concerns about governance, accountability, and the stewardship of taxpayer dollars in Arkansas. Regardless of the final verdict on the legality of the purchase, this episode has already served as a cautionary tale about the importance of transparency and fiscal prudence in public office.The saga of the $19,000 podium is far from over, with more hearings and audits expected in the coming weeks. As the story unfolds, it will undoubtedly continue to spark debate about the appropriate use of state funds and the ethical considerations that come with holding public office. For Governor Sanders, the controversy represents a significant challenge to her leadership and a test of her ability to navigate the complex waters of state politics.
@ISIDEWITH4 days4D
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., on Friday released his annual Christmas "Festivus" report for the ninth year in a row, outlining $900 billion in government waste. Among notable instances, the National Institutes of Health allocated funds to study Russian cats on treadmills; photos of Barbies were utilized as identification to obtain COVID relief funds; the Department of Defense lost $169 million of outdoor-stored military gear; $6 million went towards tourism in Egypt by the United States Agency for International Development; and the Small Business Administration provided over $200 million to "struggling" music artists such as Post Malone, Chris Brown and Lil Wayne.Up from $30 trillion in debt in 2022, this year's debt amounts to $34 trillion, the report also highlights. "Who’s to blame for our crushing level of debt? Everybody," Paul wrote in the report. "This year, members of both parties in Congress voted to raise the debt ceiling, which empowered the government to borrow an unlimited amount of money until 2024. As Congress spends to reward its favored industries and pet projects, the American taxpayers are forced to pay the price through record-high inflation and crippling interest rates."He added: "The same big spenders teamed up, yet again, to continue sending Americans’ hard-earned money to foreign countries and funding endless wars, all while ignoring our porous southern border."Rand's report highlighted government spending that included accepting Barbie doll photos to obtain COVID relief funds from a portion of an $800 billion allocation in Paycheck Protection Program funds. Other expenses highlighted were $659 billion for national debt interest, $33.2 million for transgender monkey research, $6 million for boosting Egyptian tourism and an unknown cost for USDA's dog-walking research in summer. "Researchers found the Labradors’ fur color did not affect their body temperatures after a hot summer’s walk. That’s it. That’s the taxpayerfunded, cutting-edge study," Paul wrote. "The Agricultural Research Service at the USDA, which funded the study at Southern Illinois University, gets $1.7 billion a year from Congress, but it’s unknown how much the hot dog study cost the taxpayer."
Explore other topics that are important to America voters.
@ISIDEWITH1yr1Y
Absentee-by-mail ballots are paper ballots that are mailed to voters who must then fill them out and return them, often with the voter's signature and sometimes a witness signature to prove the voter's identity. In 35 states and Washington, D.C., any qualified voter may vote absentee-by-mail without…