The New York Times, July 27, 2009 by Chris Elmendorf and Ethan J. Leib
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/28/opinion/28leib.html?_r=2
We suggest a more modest role for an assembly of ordinary citizens: breaking budget stalemates. Here’s how it would work. If the Legislature and the governor fail to adopt a budget four weeks before the deadline for the new fiscal year, a group of randomly selected citizens—one from each legislative district—would be convened to resolve the stalemate.