IntroductionAs many voters and organizations look to the government for funding, ruling parties seek to gain political advantages for upcoming elections. One of the major issues that representatives often address during campaigns to gain an advantage is the federal deficit. Because the deficit is added to the debt, which exceeds 14,000 billion dollars. “Federal debt exists as a result of federal government deficits or deficit budgets in which government spending exceeds its revenues” (Federal Debt, 2011). Revenue constitutes a significant component of the deficit. For individuals to analyze revenue, they must examine how the government receives its revenue. The economic budget: revenue outlook The revenue outlook assesses how the government uses its resources to finance its spending. Projected revenues are expected to be $2.2 trillion, an increase of 3 percent from last year. According to the Revenue Outlook, the three largest sources of government funding are (1) personal income taxes, (2) corporate income taxes, and (3) social insurance taxes. Other secondary sources of funding come from the Federal Reserve, tariffs, excise taxes, estate taxes, gift taxes, fines, and fees. The CBO reports a dramatic decline expected for 2011 "...[resulting] largely from unmeasured factors related to the recession and the slow recovery of the economy" (Congressional Budget Office, 2011: 86). As the CBO anticipates an economic recovery, income expectations will rise as individuals are expected to have more income. As this individual income is expected to increase, tax brackets are also expected to increase. Total revenue share will increase significantly starting in 2011...... middle of paper ......March 5, 2011.)Podesta, John. 2010. 16 Ways to Reduce the Deficit. (Accessed from the Internet at this website http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2010/11/14/16-ways-to-cut-the-deficit/a-risk-fee-for-big-banks, on March 3, 2011.)The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. 2010. Deficit Solutions Meet With Public Skepticism (Accessed from the Internet at this website http://people-press.org/report/683/, March 4, 2011.)Rooney, Ben. 2011. U.S. bureaucracy wastes billions, watchdog says. (Accessed online at this website http://money.cnn.com/2011/03/01/news/economy/gao_report_government_duplication/index.htm, March 2, 2011.)Office of Tom Coburn. 2010. Coburn PAYGO Amendment. (Accessed online at this website http://coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/rightnow?ContentRecord_id=3F90C14B-802A-23AD-4CB4-741E080AF897, March 5, 2011.)