How to stop a government shut down

How to prevent another government shut is an intriguing question. Should prevention through new laws even be considered?

The way I see it there are three options. Do nothing leaving a shut down possible. Change the law so that all budgets remain the the previous year's rates during a shutdown. Change the law so that all budgets increase to a certain pre-determined rate in the event of a shutdown.

I can accept the status quo. But I would prefer a change from this. The "pressure" to get a deal done results in bad legislation (health impact "fee").

Worse is the option to make the budget raise automatically. I certainly do not like this idea. It means that there will be a growing budget regardless of what happens, regardless of circumstances and in the event of a desperate need to cut the budget a stalemate in the legislature would make things even worse.

The final option is one Governor Pawlenty is proposing.

This year, the leaders want to create a law that would allow the state temporarily to continue paying bills at the previous year's level even if they fail to pass a new budget. Federal lawmakers and many states already have such laws, generally known as continuing resolutions.

I mentioned already why I like this. Pawlenty gets points for this reform effort that is also fiscally straight (+1--I will give more if he actully gets out and pushes for this forcefully instead of lobbing out ideas).

What troubles me is the Speaker's response...more his justification.

House Speaker Steve Sviggum said he's got some doubts about the worth of a state continuing resolution law.

"It's not the answer to everything," said the Kenyon Republican. "What it says is: You don't have to make a decision. There is no pressure — there's no force to make a decision."

Forced decisions, as I have already mentioned, lead to bad decisions. Legislators are not responsible enough to handle forced decisions...they panic to easily with generally bad results.

So, while I can live with the status quo I would prefer something better. Better in this case is what the Governor is proposing.