July 18, 2011 12:23PM 

# ‘Cut, Cap and Balance,’ the Debt Ceiling and Federal Spending 

By [Caleb O. Brown](https://www.cato.org/people/caleb-o-brown) 

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Cato Institute scholars [Daniel J. Mitchell](https://www.cato.org/people/daniel-mitchell) and [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) evaluate the plans offered by Republicans for lowering federal spending using a so-called “Cut, Cap and Balance” proposal that would make small cuts to federal spending in the short run, cap federal spending, and balance the federal budget using a tax-limited balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.

##### Related Tags 

[Tax and Budget Policy](https://www.cato.org/tax-budget-policy) 

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