Balancing a State Budget Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Balancing a State Budget Now that you've had a chance to balance a budget of your own, how would you describe the experience? Did you find the exercise difficult? YES. Raising taxes to pay for programs alienates some groups, while cutting programs to save money alienates others. NO. Why do our politicians have such a difficult time making budgets work? Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Balancing a State Budget Your state legislature just passed a new budget, and you see that they've reduced the funding for state-run nursing homes in order to give you and your fellow citizens a tax cut. Are you happy about the resulting tax cut? YES. People should be able to take care of themselves without government assistance. NO. It is more important to continue funding programs helping those in need than it is to cut my taxes. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Balancing a State Budget What if the legislature saved the nursing home program, but cut funding for college loans instead? Is your reaction any different now that the budget cuts affect you and your friends directly? YES. It is more important to continue funding programs helping those in need (myself included) than to cut taxes. NO. People should be able to take care of themselves without government assistance (myself included). Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.