'Stop, cut, fix' to solve federal budget

Another year, another looming government shutdown fight. When Congress reconvenes after Labor Day, lawmakers will have to scramble to pass funding bills or face a government shutdown on Oct. 1.

This government-by-crisis is now a tradition, and it's bad for Illinoisans. Rather than pass a budget now, some lawmakers want to wait until the "lame-duck" session - the two months after the election when neither Congress nor President Obama are accountable to voters.

They'll use this opportunity to enact a massive - and secret - "omnibus" bill filled with handouts to special interests and higher spending. Then they'll pass it without even reading it, abandoning their duty to protect Illinois taxpayers.

This charade needs to stop. That's why Congress should pass a long-term funding bill. We're calling this plan "Stop, Cut & Fix."

Start with "Stop." With a long-term funding bill - say, two-years - there would be no last-minute scramble to avoid a shutdown. Nor would there be a lame-duck session and secret budget deal.

Next up is "Cut." The current system allows a small number of lawmakers to leverage the threat of a shutdown to hike government spending. But a two-year funding bill would protect the bipartisan spending cuts that were established in the 2011 Budget Control Act. This plan would lock them in through 2018, saving taxpayers $150 billion.

Finally, there's "Fix." A two-year funding bill would give Congress time to fix the budgeting process. They would even have time to discuss reforms to entitlements - the main drivers of America's $19.4 trillion national debt. Your representatives and senators have two choices. They can either stick with the failed status quo - broken promises, higher spending, and shutdown threats - or they can get behind a plan that puts Illinois taxpayers first.

Andy Koenig, Senior Policy Advisor, Freedom Partners

Arlington, Virginia