Will The Government Phase Out The Dollar Bill?

Of all the ways that the Congressional supercommittee is considering to save money, this one could be among the more unorthodox. If the dollar bill were phased out and replaced with a dollar coin, it could save more than $5.5 billion. But the Government Accountability Office found more than $1 billion dollars in dollar coins aren't used. USA Today reports that lobbying interests on both sides are ramping up their efforts. They think that Congress might decide the issue after more than 25 years of debate. Mining interests, vending companies and mass transit agencies support the coin. Paper and ink producers and some small retailers oppose it.