Unfortunately, the outcome is far more serious than putting points on a scoreboard. The fiscal health of the world's only superpower is at stake.

Both Democrats and Republicans agree: The federal budget-making system is broken. In only two of the four years that I have been a member of Congress did the House and Senate manage to produce a budget.

Any business owner knows that is a recipe for disaster. There is no federal government balance sheet, no income statement or capital budget. Congress spends all its revenues and more.

A former Treasury official under the first President Bush said, "Think of the federal government as a gigantic insurance company that is $46 billion [this year] in the hole (with a side-line business in national defense and homeland security)."

The staggering deficits run up in the past four years have resulted in national debt of more than $7 trillion. Interest payments on that debt are one of the fastest growing parts of the federal budget and those interest payment obligations are a "debt tax" that cannot be repealed.

I believe it is immoral to continue spending like drunken sailors with no plan on how Congress is to dig out of this deficit hole. The answer is not to keep raising the debt ceiling. The answer is not to guarantee higher taxes on generations yet unborn with the "debt tax." It is time for Congress to fulfill its oversight role to hold those tasked with governing the nation accountable.

Congress must start with an accurate report of how all the money has been spent. Of the 35 agencies significant to the U.S. government's consolidated financial statements, only 23 have a chief financial officer. Only 18 of those were able to get a clean audit.

The biggest offender is the Department of Defense: Only six out of 63 Pentagon departments can produce a clean audit. As much as $24 billion may be unaccounted for.

In addition, let's make sure budgets include all known spending, which has not been the case lately. The President's budget, submitted to Congress last month, does not include a significant amount of the costs of supporting our troops in Iraq, even though we all know those expenditures will take place.

As a leader of the House Blue Dog Coalition, I have been speaking out on deficits and on the federal debt since I was first elected. Our present course is unsustainable. It is clear that the only way to get our nation's fiscal house in order is to fundamentally change the way Congress budgets taxpayer dollars.

This year, the Blue Dogs have offered a 12-step reform plan to cure the Washington, D.C., addiction to deficit spending.

Among other things, the Blue Dog plan requires a balanced budget, spending caps, a rainy-day fund and no more hidden votes to raise the debt limit. Legislative oversight and open, vigorous debate must be restored.

Take the $450 billion defense budget, which consumes over half of Congress' decision making every year. Full House debate used to consume one solid week, or about 60 hours. Now it is debated in two hours.

Congress should at least be allowed to read the 1,000-page bills it is voting on. That might save us from embarrassing mistakes such as the one last year giving members of Congress and their staffs the right to access private tax returns.

Digging out of the deficit ditch will not be easy. It will require making painful choices. The Blue Dog Coalition this year - and every year - has offered to work with all sides to bring about the shared sacrifice necessary to restore fiscal balance.

Chronic deficit spending hurts all of us. It makes it harder to grow the economy. It squeezes other priorities such as education and health care. It is an immoral burden on our children and grandchildren who inherit this crushing load of debt. It is time to break the cycle of runaway spending and restore integrity to the budget process.

The first step to recovery is admitting a problem. I, along with the Blue Dog Coalition, encourage Congressional leaders to sober up in Washington and work together, across party lines, to restore fiscal sanity.

This week's budget debate is a good time to begin.

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Congressman Jim Matheson represents Utah's 2nd Congressional District.