‘Get rid of the d*** pennies’: Gee Scott celebrates U.S. Treasury’s decision

The U.S. Treasury announced it will phase out the penny, putting a stop to adding one-cent coins into circulation, the department said in a statement Thursday.

With the final order of penny blanks ordered earlier this month, the U.S. Mint will continue to manufacture pennies until the inventory of penny blanks is depleted. This decision is expected to save the government approximately $56 million annually.

“We’re spending millions to make a coin nobody uses,” KIRO host Gee Scott said. “That’s like turning on the heat in your house in July. Get rid of them d*** pennies. It makes no sense.”

The U.S. Mint first created the penny in 1793. In 1909, Abraham Lincoln became the first president featured on our coins in honor of his 100th birthday.

“I am going to argue that men hate coins. I think that’s why both of you have just gone on this whole bandwagon of let’s get rid of the pennies,” KIRO host Ursula Reutin told Gee and Andrew Lanier, the producer of “The Gee and Ursula Show.” “Sometimes, I’ll even give exact change. If someone says something is $3.67, I like the option of giving them exact change.”

“Jeez, how much has your life been wasted trying to find 67 cents?” Gee asked. “You don’t feel like you’re wasting time? I would rather pay $4 than $3.67.”

Well, guess what? You will be, because they aren’t going to be rounding anything down,” Ursula responded. “If it used to be $3.26, it’s going to now be $4. They’re not going to eat the 26 cents. I’m actually someone who believes in carrying cash and coin.”

Listen to the full conversation here.

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.