December 2, 2011 4:35PM 

# This Week in Government Failure 

By [Tad DeHaven](https://www.cato.org/people/tad-dehaven) 

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Over at [Downsizing the Federal Government](http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/), we focused on the following issues this past week:

- I argue that we don’t need a [Balanced Budget Amendment](http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/we-dont-need-a-balanced-budget-amendment) to the Constitution.
- Thoughts on the “[Tea Party Budget](http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/tea-party-budget).”
- The 21st Century Postal Service Act would keep the [U.S. Postal Service](http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/senate-postal-reform-bill-needs-a-new-title) stuck in the 20th century.
- If Congress is intent on [cutting payroll taxes](http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/keynesian-policies-have-failed), it should do so within the context of long-run fiscal reforms.
- Republicans who say they want smaller government should walk the talk by introducing legislation that would [eliminate agencies and programs](http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/revisiting-christmas-tree-tax).

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##### Related Tags 

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

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