Shutdown doesn't need to happen

By The Gazette Editorial Board

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Lawmakers have less than a month to settle their differences and pass a state budget if they hope to avoid at least a partial state government shutdown.

The session was supposed to be over April 30. But as the sixth week of overtime began, leaders of the Democratic-controlled Senate, the GOP-controlled House and staffers representing Republican Gov. Terry Branstad are pointing fingers instead of bridging their differences.

Or instead of figuring out what will happen to state offices if no budget is passed before the new fiscal year begins July 1. It's getting too close not to know and no one seems to be able to tell us for sure what a state government shutdown would look like and how it would affect critical state-funded services through counties, cities, schools and other public institutions.

The governor could use administrative authority to appropriate some funds, David Roederer, Branstad's director of the state Department of Management, recently told a Gazette reporter. But, with just a few weeks left to resolve the budget impasse, Roederer said the governor's office has no plan for using it.

“Frankly, we're focused on getting this budget resolved because that's the best and easiest way of doing it,” he said.

That might have been a good negotiating strategy two months ago. Now, it seems to border on the irresponsible. The public needs to know what to expect.

If the current stalemate continues, every Iowan likely would be affected by a shutdown. Mental health funds almost certainly would be squeezed or run dry; same for unemployment services, and construction on state-funded projects. State parks and recreation areas could be forced to close, inconveniencing thousands of summer travelers and resulting in important state revenues. Almost certainly there would be other unintended or unexpected consequences.

During a partial government shutdown in Minnesota in 2005, transport trucks - including, at one point, a shipment of military supplies intended for the Minnesota National Guard - were stuck at the border, unable to buy permits that would allow them to bring oversized cargo across the state line. Thousands of public workers were sent home to wait out the shutdown - without pay. Rest areas and state parks closed for the Fourth of July weekend.

Such a scenario doesn't have to happen here. Compared to a number of other states facing potential shutdowns, Iowa has a healthy revenue situation and reserve funds to support a fiscally sound compromise. The holdup looks more philosophical than practical.

Essential state services are nothing to play politics with. State leaders should waste no more time in putting their pointer fingers down and getting to work.

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