The budget appropriations process is broken, and that’s something everyone agrees on. In 2011, there were eight continuing resolutions, three near government shutdowns, one partial shutdown at the Federal Aviation Administration, and a whole lotta gridlock. The prevalence of omnibus legislation means there’s rarely a stand-alone appropriations bill funding individual agencies. All this creates uncertainty and anxiety, personally and professionally, for the 2 million federal workers who run the government.

Lawmakers from both parties have talked for years about moving all federal agencies to a multiyear appropriations process to spare them the pain of continuing resolutions and shutdown threats, but also help them improve program oversight and better allocate scant resources. Last year was such a hot mess that perhaps it will motivate lawmakers to enact real reforms to the annual budget process.