In times like these, when the State of Iowa’s budget can be reasonably compared to the budget of a broke college student, unconventional ideas may seem like the most practical solutions.

Iowa legislators are struggling to come up with ideas to solve Iowa’s budget crisis — the state faces a $4.2 billion shortfall over the next two years with no state reserves left, according to The Des Moines Register. Ideas such as increasing the cigarette tax from 36 cents to 72 cents, implementing a sales tax on items purchased on the Internet and trimming $128 million through a proposal issued by a Minnesota think tank may have to be solutions to our ever-growing problem.

And despite having an entire legislative session to come to a consensus on a plan, the General Assembly is still struggling to agree — and they only have two weeks left.

The cigarette and Internet taxes and the Public Strategies Group proposal have all come under fire from legislators and regular citizens alike. But it seems that after several years of across-the-board cuts, the unconventional ideas should be given a chance. PSG — an unconventional but highly successful consulting firm — has suggested that state universities start paying rent for their buildings, along with a reduction of almost $70 million in state aid to local governments. Gov. Tom Vilsack has expressed his approval for the proposal, but he said the rent charges to universities will not happen — here the ISU administration can breathe a sigh of relief.

As for the cigarette and Internet taxes, Republicans seem to be standing firm against the cigarette tax, but are more willing to explore the Internet tax proposal. Vilsack has pushed for the taxes, along with other Democrats, in conjunction with his economic development fund that calls for a proposed $890 million to go toward business development, university research, work-force training, quality of life and school infrastructure. The fund would be supported by higher taxes.

So far, the economic development fund bill has failed in committee.

House Speaker Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City, said the bill had made him and the committee members nervous because the state would barely be able to afford it. But he said something must be done to help Iowa’s budget. “There’s a cost of doing nothing,” said Rants, according to the Register.

Now is the time for Vilsack and all representatives and senators to come together united — as they had promised at the beginning of the legislative session — and make progressive plans that will help keep the state afloat. In January, Vilsack said, “We must take risks — as individuals and as a state. We must not be afraid to lead, not be afraid to fail,” according to the Register.

Now is the time to take those risks and push aside political bickering. Raise taxes, not rent.

Editorial Board: Cavan Reagan, Amber Billings, Ayrel Clark, Charlie Weaver, Katie List