“Super Committee Project” A simulation on Federal Deficit Reduction Mrs. Ladson

What is it? Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction Committee has to come to an agreement to reduce the deficit by at least 1.5 trillion dollars by November of this year. Once the committee comes to an agreement the whole US Congress will vote on the proposed budget cuts. If the committee fails to agree on a package or the full Congress fails to pass it, a so-called "trigger mechanism" would enact $1.2 trillion in automatic spending cuts. – split between the national security and domestic arenas – biggest entitlement programs would be excluded from these automatic cuts

Who is on the Committee? 12 members chosen by party leadership, bipartisan group of US House and Senate members – 6 Democrats – 6 Republicans nomy/debt_committee_members/index.htm nomy/debt_committee_members/index.htm

Who is on the Committee? DemocratsRepublicans Senate members Patty Murray, Washington, Co-Chair Patty Murray Max Baucus, Montana Max Baucus John Kerry, Massachusetts John Kerry Jon Kyl, Arizona Jon Kyl Rob Portman, Ohio Rob Portman Pat Toomey, Pennsylvania Pat Toomey House members Xavier Becerra, California Xavier Becerra Jim Clyburn, South Carolina Jim Clyburn Chris Van Hollen, Maryland Chris Van Hollen Jeb Hensarling, Texas, Co- Chair Jeb Hensarling Fred Upton, Michigan Fred Upton Dave Camp, Michigan Dave Camp

Your Project – 40 point project Students are placed randomly in their “super committee.” Each group will have to: – 1. Choose three goals for the US from among the many brainstormed at the beginning of the project. – 2. Make budget/spending decisions that will meet those goals. – 3. Cut the deficit by at least 1.5 trillion dollars – 4. Make a powerpoint presentation to explains your decisions.

Good Websites to Use Concord Coalition Budget Activity – hallenge/sim/budget_master.html hallenge/sim/budget_master.html New York Times Budget Activity – /weekinreview/deficits-graphic.html /weekinreview/deficits-graphic.html Federal Budget Overview –

Your Presentation Should Include: Title Slide listing project title and group member names (5 points) Slide listing 3 goals for country (5 points) Slides listing spending decisions that were made to realize those three goals (10 points) – Money amounts must be cited properly using one of the sites given. Slides listing your budget cuts (15 points) – Cuts to pay for your new goals – Cuts to further reduce the deficit – * Note that the cuts need to make sense. – Money amounts must be cited properly using the websites I gave you. Slides summarizes/justifying why your decisions are the best. (5 points)

How to divide the work? Every student should participate in the discussions and decisions students present 1-2 students to type up ideas on powerpoint 1-2 students to double-check spending and cuts using the appropriate websites I gave you.