A proposal by Common Cause/Pennsylvania for mandatory deadlines in the commonwealth's budget-preparation process — beyond the state constitution's stipulation that a budget be passed by July 1 — contains much that makes sense.

Too bad the lawmakers in Harrisburg who have been unable to resolve the current budget stalemate also would have to enact the rules that Common Cause advocates. It's unlikely they would vote to penalize themselves in the way Common Cause proposes.

Three of the deadlines contained in the Common Cause plan and the ramifications for not meeting them are:

• May 15 would be the date by which the state House would be required to pass a balanced budget and submit that spending plan, along with any necessary supporting tax legislation, to the state Senate. If the deadline is missed, all House members would be fined $100 a day until the objective is met, with no offsetting compensation permitted. Fines would be paid into the General Fund.

• June 21 would be the deadline for the Senate either to approve the House version of the budget or submit an amended version to the House, plus any accompanying tax bills. The punishment for senators missing the deadline would be the same as those applicable to House members.

• June 30 would remain the deadline for budget passage by the General Assembly and for the governor to sign the new spending blueprint. Missing that deadline would require that all members of the House and Senate, the governor and Cabinet secretaries forfeit their salaries and per diems beginning July 1 until a new budget is enacted. There would be no offsetting or compensatory pay allowed for the forfeited salary; forfeited salaries would be returned to the General Fund.

Nearly a month and a half beyond the constitutionally mandated deadline for 2009-10 budget passage, none of the main issues in the current budget stalemate have been resolved. There's still a $3 billion deficit, no consensus has been reached on spending, and tax issues such as Gov. Ed Rendell's proposal to increase the state's personal income tax remain controversial.

What Common Cause proposes makes sense. But again, the lawmakers at the heart of the budget debacle are the same people who would have to enact the Common Cause plan.

Perhaps the best question voters can ask candidates for legislative seats and those individuals who aspire to be the next governor is:

"Would you vote yes to the Common Cause plan for mandatory budget deadlines?"