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Higher levels of government should provide adequate resources when mandating functions to lower levels of government.

Services should be implemented and operated by the level of government that can most appropriately and efficiently deliver them.

Efforts to reform entitlement spending should recognize the following factors:

Policymakers should broaden the tax base by limiting tax preferences that do not efficiently achieve important policy goals.

When economic conditions permit, states should accumulate budget reserves adequate to maintain services during recessions.

Deficit-reduction efforts should avoid cuts in programs that serve low- and moderate-income populations.

The federal government must strive for long-term fiscal balance.

Any further efforts to address marriage penalties should be targeted to two-earner couples and structured to avoid increasing marriage bonuses.

Passing responsibilities down to lower levels of government should be undertaken primarily to place services closer to the people being served and to maximize administrative

Policymakers should expand opportunities for people to volunteer in their communities. This includes older adults and people with disabilities.