[quote=jpinpb]
The government will have their hands forced also. I can see welfare cuts. If they have no money, they have no choice. They have to cut somewhere. If that is the biggest part of the pie, then that’s where they’ll try to reduce. It makes sense.
[/quote]
The biggest part of the pie is education. K-12 is over 40% of the budget. Higher education hads another 10%+. Between the two they account for over half.

HHS (Health and Human Services) accounts for about 20%. You could eliminate it and not close the current gap.

Corrections accounts for about 10%. Complete elimination will eat only a little over half of the deficit.

All other stuff accounts for ~20% and likewise, a complete elimination of them won’t close the gap.

Only one option really exists. Each program, department, etc, needs a 20% cut. Period. Each head of said program needs to be measured on how well they perform the spirit of their role with the reduced funding. Leave it to the heads of the departments to eliminate unnecessary programs. While they are working on that, the legislature can figure out how to measure whether or not the programs are worthwhile and contribute more than they cost.

The people in charge of the programs get paid bucks, let them earn it or get canned. Kind of like the real world.