Pass a law that requires Congress to pass a balanced budget by Oct 1st with congressional penalties for noncompliance.

Every year Congress drags out the budget process for months beyond the start of the fiscal year. This process disrupts the function of all federal and state government funded activities. Penalties for our Congressmen are desperately needed to end this annual process of political posturing between Republican and Democatic parties. The law should include items like mandating the presence of all Congressmen at the House and Senate from Sept 1st until the budget is passed and forfeiture of pay after Oct 1st until the budget is passed. More drastic penalties should ensue as the process extends beyond Oct, Nov and Dec. Possible penalties for extending beyond the end of the calender year could include forteiture of pensions and ineligability for re-election.