US government near to debt limit

Speaking of signing the checks...

From BBC News:

US Treasury Secretary John Snow has told Congress to raise the government's credit limit in order to avoid having some of its operations shut down. The government needs Congressional authority to borrow and the total accumulated debt is now close to its limit of $8.2 trillion. If the limit is not increased, the government could find it difficult to pay debts or borrow money. Congress is expected to agree to an extension, averting any debt crisis.