Debt Ceiling Reached

The Federal Government has a debt limit that is set by Congress. It's supposed to be some kind of self-imposed handcuffs that keeps the Federal Government from getting out of control on its own spending.

But when they get to the limit.....Congress just votes that the limit be increased.

Great handcuffs.

This quote is the one that got my attention;
A senior Treasury official told CBS News that the department has some "extraordinary accounting tools" it can use to give the government breathing room in the range of $150-billion when the Debt exceeds the Debt Ceiling.

Read it here; http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/12/16/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5987341.shtml

Hey....didn't Bernie Madoff and Tom Petters have some "extraordinary accounting tools" too??