Support Master Gardeners; Unecessary disease; 'Poorly concieved plan'; 'Costly way to govern.'

To the editor: After the recent partial government shutdown, it should be clear that holding federal workers and contractors hostage because Congress and the president can’t reach a budget agreement is a cruel and costly way to govern. One of the chief responsibilities of Congress is to pass a budget. Congress needs to do the work it was elected to do and should be held accountable when it doesn’t.