And London's Transport Authority has promoted the Oyster card, a magnetic payment system that keeps track of where people have been and when.
VOA: standard.2010.04.01
In practice the new system meant arrears could accumulate for as long as three months before the landlord receives the first payment directly from the local authority, it said.
As part of any larger reform, the Congress should consider granting the Federal Reserve explicit oversight authority for systemically important payment and settlement systems.
If the debt ceiling is not raised, the US government will not have the spending authority to meet current payment obligations like federal employee salaries, health and retirement benefits.