<P> A debate exists within the United States government, and American society at large, over whether the one - cent coin, commonly called the penny, should be eliminated as a unit of currency in the United States . Two bills introduced in the US Congress would have ceased production of pennies, but neither bill was approved . Such a bill would leave the nickel, at five cents, as the lowest - value coin . On February 15, 2013, President Barack Obama stated his willingness to eliminate the penny . Although a 2015 memo revealed that Secretary of the Treasury Jack Lew has considered eliminating the penny, there are currently no plans to abolish the penny . </P> <P> In 1990, United States Representative Jim Kolbe (R - AZ) introduced the Price Rounding Act of 1989, HR 3761 to eliminate the penny in cash transactions, rounding to the nearest nickel . In 2001, Kolbe introduced the Legal Tender Modernization Act of 2001, HR 5818, and in 2006, he introduced the Currency Overhaul for an Industrious Nation (COIN) Act, HR 5818 . While the bills received much popular support from the public, and therefore from their representatives, the bills were not made to law when Congress adjourned . There are public pressures on many Representatives to reintroduce these bills to the legislature . One such example is the constituency of the 2nd District of Colorado, represented by Jared Polis . </P>

When are they going to stop making pennies
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