Account-inability

The City of Richmond isn't the only entity to suffer waste and abuse (although it may hold the state record). Virginia's Birth-related Neurological Injury Compensation Program also has accounting problems.

A state audit finds that the program has weak internal controls. (That's a fancy way to say lousy bookkeeping.) It also has overpaid on contracts, to the detriment of Virginia taxpayers.

The news comes at the same time state government is going through yet another round of budget cuts that are forcing hundreds of layoffs, cuts in higher education, and other painful measures.

Condign punishment for the poor bookkeeping at the birth-injury program might entail having its overseers explain to state workers who have just been laid off why the program's managers couldn't be bothered to husband state cash more carefully.