By Staff | The Topeka Capital-Journal

Having finally acted rationally to get the federal government running again and able to pay its bills, albeit at nearly the last minute, members of Congress now should get to work in earnest to ensure citizens don’t have to watch a repeat performance in January and February of what they have witnessed over the past few weeks.

It would be difficult to say nothing was accomplished Wednesday when the House and Senate approved legislation that allowed the country to avoid defaulting on its debt — a major accomplishment, indeed — but the bill sent to President Barack Obama will only fund the government through Jan. 15 and allow the Treasury to borrow money through Feb. 7.

Democrat and Republican lawmakers must find some way to work together long enough to address, or at least agree to address, their differences and the country’s needs. If they don’t, last-minute votes to keep the government afloat will become a recurring scenario. The county doesn’t need that and the voters certainly don’t want that.

As difficult as it may be for them, it’s time for the senators and representatives in Washington, D.C., to stop posturing and start governing, that means sitting down together and coming up with legislation on all the different issues — there are many of them — confronting their constituents. Granted, that includes federal spending, but it has to be addressed by people willing to compromise. What citizens have witnessed and endured for the past few weeks is what happens when unyielding forces face off, and it wasn’t pleasant.

When the House vote was taken shortly before before the witching hour Wednesday, Rep. Lynn Jenkins voted for the legislation that enabled government to keep functioning, as had Sen. Jerry Moran earlier in the evening. They voted as their constituents wanted them to vote, and the rest of Kansas’ congressional delegation should have followed suit.

It’s difficult to believe anyone really wanted to watch the United States default on its debt, or learn just how the country’s economy would have reacted to such an event.

Knowing that, Republican and Democrats should address the country’s finances and growing debt well before the next deadline. It would be great if they could get that wrapped up by Christmas.