The Nation - News from Dec. 10, 1985

Individuals, businesses and other governments owe the U.S. government $64.6 billion in delinquent debts, a congressional report said. Rep. John R. Kasich (R-Ohio), who released the audit by the congressional General Accounting Office, called for creation of a new office of “debt czar” to collect much of the money, which he said keeps growing every day. For instance, he said, the GAO report showed the delinquencies stood at $50 billion on Sept. 30, 1984, and had risen to $64.6 billion as of last June 30. The GAO report said $41.1 billion--the single largest amount owed--is due to the Treasury Department, mostly for overdue taxes, interest and fines.