The do-nothing Senate still hasn't passed the necessary appropriations bills for this fiscal year. Of course, it really doesn't matter, because, as the New York Times reports, the federal government's books make Enron's look like a textbook example of accounting principles.

But that aside, the most interesting factoid is the first paragraph of the second page.

Early last century Congress passed laws prohibiting government agencies from spending more than Congress appropriated. These laws have not been entirely successful. For example, in the 2000-2001 fiscal year the Forest Service alone overspent its budget by $1.1 billion.

The law is "not entirely successful?" I'd say it's not successful at all if you've overspent by $1.1 billion.

Then again, it's the government, so it's not real money anyway.