[logifail]

> Congress only makes just-in-time decisions

Do they have to do it like that, or is that just how it's done?

How about in parallel with the budget they also discuss the debt ceiling? Get the finance in place, then agree how to spend what money they've agreed they can raise? Apologies in advance if that suggestion is completely ignorant and/or completely crazy :)

[jrockway]

As far as I know, no other democracy does anything like this. If the legislature authorizes spending then the agency with that budget is allowed to spend it.