May 24, 2006 1:22PM 

# Trimming Government for Dummies 

By [Tim Lynch](https://www.cato.org/people/tim-lynch) 

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[Polls](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4957626) show voters generally believe the federal government is not on the right track. Runaway spending is a chief concern.

A new [report](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/23/AR2006052300184.html?nav=hcmoduletmv) shows “extensive fraud” at Fannie Mae.

Options for the GOP Congress:

(a) Forget this news story and look for creative ways to increase popularity with likely voters. Maybe a congressional resolution that will call for Barbaro’s speedy recovery.

(b) Act on today’s report. Issue scores of news releases denouncing fraud.

(c) Schedule a hearing after the summer recess “to get to the bottom of these allegations.”

(d) [Trim the government](https://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=1152). Now.

Memo to Congress: Choose (d). It would be good politics and good policy.

Memo to the White House: If Congress chooses (d), this would not be the right moment for Mr. Bush to use his veto for the first time. That would be bad politics and bad policy.

##### Related Tags 

[General](https://www.cato.org/general), [Government and Politics](https://www.cato.org/government-politics) 

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