This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The federal government is once again on the verge of shutting down unless Congress can agree by April 28 on a plan to fund the government for the rest of the year. Time is short, especially when you consider that Congress was on recess for almost two weeks in the middle of April.

This is a gut check moment for every elected representative in D.C. and I for one will be anxiously watching whether members of the Utah congressional delegation are willing to negotiate in good faith and do what's necessary to keep government running.

Those who think threatening to shut down the government is just another harmless negotiating tactic are dead wrong. For starters, passing timely budget and spending bills is the first responsibility given to Congress in the U.S. Constitution. So when a member of Congress abdicates this most basic responsibility, they are also violating their oath to uphold the Constitution.

In the event of a shutdown, legions of hard working public servants will be thrown off the job, denying them the paychecks they need to feed their families and harming local communities across the country. Meanwhile, countless services Americans depend on will be unavailable: National parks and museums will close, lifesaving medical research will cease and those wishing to travel abroad won't be able to apply to get a passport. This isn't theoretical. This is exactly what happened last time the government shut down in 2013.

As a member of No Labels, a bipartisan organization committed to putting problem solving over party, I hope our Utah congressional delegation will work across the aisle to keep the government open, by helping Congress pass either a continuing resolution maintaining current spending levels or an omnibus spending bill that includes new appropriations. I hope my fellow citizens will join me in making their voices heard.

Scott N. Howell, Salt Lake City, served in the Utah Senate from 1990 to 2000.