Why is it that when our elected representatives put their heads together to reduce federal spending, the best they can do is cut less than a tenth of one percent? Personally, I'm in favor of Chris Edwards' new plan - eliminate $380 billion in spending and reduce the federal budget by a whopping 10%.

Here are a few of my favorite cuts:

K-12 Education Subsidies

Rising federal funding of the public schools has not improved test scores. It has only created large bureaucracies and stifled local control and innovation. Save $60 billion.

See a chart of federal spending vs. achievement scores here.

Overpaid Federal Workers.

Federal workers earn an average $120,000 a year in wages and benefits—twice what the average American earns. Federal wages should be cut 10 percent. Save $20 billion.

Energy Subsidies.

Federal energy subsidies have a long record of waste and boondoggle. Private markets will invest in energy technologies when there is a reasonable chance for a return. Save $20 billion.

Here's a short 3-min overview of the federal Department of Energy - how enormous their budget is, and what they actually do.

Farm Subsidies.

More than 70 percent of aid goes to the largest 10 percent of farm businesses. With an average income 28 percent higher than the U.S. average, farm households don’t need federal welfare. Save $30 billion.

Farm subsidies have created our current industrialized food system and caused irreparable harm to our nation's small farmers and to our health. If we want to break the cycle, we need to stop letting the federal government incentivize factory food production and let citizens choose which food producers they want to give their money to.

Transportation Subsidies.

State governments and the private sector can more efficiently fund highways, airports, rail, urban transit, and air traffic control without federal subsidies and regulations. Save $85 billion.

Even though I take Amtrak frequently (thanks for helping pay for my ticket, everyone!), I still can't support this much spending on something so inefficient. Here's a quick overview of the Dept of Transportation.

The Failed War on Drugs

Ok, this one isn't actually on Chris' list, but I'm adding it to mine. The AP just released a new report confirming what most of us already knew -- that the War on Drugs is a complete and utter failure:

"After 40 years, the United States' War on Drugs has cost $1 trillion dollars and hundreds of thousands of lives, and for what? Drug use is rampant and violence more brutal and widespread."

Using Freedom of Information Act requests, archival records, federal budgets, and interviews with leaders and analysts, the AP tracked where that money went -- and found that the U.S. repeatedly increased budgets for programs that did nothing to stop the flow of drugs.

READ THE REST OF THE LIST HERE

Also check out House Republicans' new "YouCut" website, where you can vote on budget items to cut: http://republicanwhip.house.gov/YouCut/