In House Speaker John Boehner's final act of service, he has brokered a budget deal that will modestly boost spending, cut some social programs, raise the federal debt ceiling and clear away a huge mess for Boehner's heir apparent, Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin.

Most important: It avoids the potential for a default of government debt.

The fact that hard-line conservatives are howling their discontent - they expressed their anger on Twitter using the hashtag #zombiebudget - is a clear sign that Boehner has done his job in sparing the country yet another of the Anger Caucus' pointless political tantrums and in giving Ryan some running room to settle into the new job. Heritage Action for America, the lobbying arm of the conservative group, called Boehner a "rogue agent."

The budget agreement would boost spending by about $80 billion over two years, increases that would be offset by cuts to Medicare and Social Security disability benefits and other programs.

Boehner also moved to sew up another issue left hanging open: the Export-Import Bank reauthorization. Congress should reauthorize the 81-year-old export credit agency, which helps companies that export - including many in Wisconsin - to do business. A General Electric engine division in Waukesha is closing, in part, the company says, because of the government's tardiness in dealing with the Ex-Im Bank. With Boehner's blessing, the House voted in favor of taking a bill away from a committee where it had languished, and passed the measure on Tuesday.

But the budget deal is even bigger. The government could have defaulted on its debt if the borrowing limit wasn't raised by Nov. 3. A temporary spending measure to keep the government open was due to run out in early December. The deal reached by congressional leaders with the White House will keep the government open through Sept. 30, 2017. The debt ceiling increase will be good through March of that year.

All of that puts aside two of the most debilitating and silly battles of recent years until a new president takes office at which time those who have chosen to believe that angry protest equals governance will have a decision to make.

Good for John Boehner.

Better for Paul Ryan.

REPRINTED FROM THE MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL