It is unimaginable, but state government could shut down because lawmakers and the governor can’t agree on a 2006-2007 state budget.

The main issues relate to health and human services. In the end, party leaders have to strike a deal. To make a compromise work, each party has to find an answer to a problem that is holding back compromise.

DFLers must create an answer to this problem: Without spending limits to state-paid insurance programs, in the long run, the state budget would rapidly rise out of control.

Republicans must work out a solution to this problem: Just because the state will no longer cover the cost of insurance to single adults with no children doesn’t mean these people won’t get sick and run up health care bills. When hospitals shift these unpaid costs to other bill payers, company insurance plans, for example, will get hit.

The answers won’t come easy, but rank-and-file lawmakers from both parties must press leaders to work harder and be more pragmatic.

A government shutdown because lawmakers and the governor could not finish their work is an unacceptable outcome.

&045; Post-Bulletin (Rochester)