How to be a "responsible politician who balances the budget".

Step 1. Put in a program designed to help people to increase your approval rating.

Step 2. Add a means testing element that requires so much administrative overhead, it costs more to means test than to just make it universal.

Step 3. Note about how expensive this is (because of the means testing)

Step 4. Remove the program.

Step 5. Pat yourself on the back and brag about how you balanced the budget.