Minn. Govt Reaches Brink of Shutdown

[Kat Kanning]

Woohoo!


Minn. Government Reaches Brink of Shutdown

By BRIAN BAKST, Associated Press Writer 54 minutes ago

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The governor and lawmakers struggled Thursday to break a budget deadlock by midnight and avert a government shutdown that could mean 10,000 layoffs and the closing of highway rest stops over the July Fourth weekend.

With the new fiscal year beginning Friday, the sticking points included taxes, casino gambling and health care for the poor.

"We're on the beachhead, and we need to move forward and get it done," Dean Johnson, leader of the Democratic majority in the Senate, said outside Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty's office, where last-ditch talks were being held.

Johnson said the sides had whittled the gap to less than $200 million in a two-year, $30 billion budget. "It's not an insurmountable difference," he said.

Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung said around midafternoon that the governor "holds out a small sliver of hope that this agreement can be struck."

Minnesota has never before had to suspend services because of a budget dispute. The last state government shutdown was in Tennessee in 2002.

Many states often miss their deadline for enacting new budgets. But Minnesota, unlike many states, has no law that automatically extends spending past the end of its fiscal year if a new budget is not approved.

A judge earlier this month ordered Minnesota to protect essential services relating to health, safety and property ? presumably state police patrols, hospitals and the like.

Other services could be closed or suspended, including highway rest areas, the issuing of new driver's licenses, worksite inspections, and the processing of applications for farm loans and health insurance for the poor.

Lawmakers hurried through a compromise bill to keep state parks from closing, eliminating the risk the parks would be unavailable during the Fourth of July weekend. The governor said earlier he probably would sign it.

The most significant pain would be felt by the roughly 10,000 employees who would be locked out Friday without some deal or stopgap spending plan.

A shutdown would cost the state $2.2 million a day, said Employee Relations Commissioner Cal Ludeman.

Fear of a shutdown led to long lines at driver's examination stations Thursday.

Jeremy Hadash, 18, went to the station in Arden Hills at the urging of his mother. The exam went badly for Hadash, who failed when he hit a car pulling out in front of him.

Afterward, a family friend, Hubert Zervas, accused legislators of playing "games as always."

"I think it's these personalities that are looking to gain what they can for the parties and themselves," he said.

[Klaus]

Woohoo exactly - three hours to go!

Local talk radio says lawmakers are still at the capitol, but very little chance of getting a deal tonight.? They did make a deal to keep the state parks open this weekend - which tells you where their priorities are...

Look at that budget - $30 Billion!? I gotta get out of this socialist paradise and get my ass to NH!? Won't be long...

Klaus (from the Soviet Socialist Republic of Minnesota)

[Kat Kanning]

Welcome, Klaus!

Looks like it happened:

Minnesota's Government Shuts Down

For the first time in state history, parts of Minnesota government are shut down. The shutdown went into effect at midnight after lawmakers couldn't reach a budget deal. Governor Tim Pawlenty accuses Democrats of orchestrating the government shutdown to embarrass him in the run-up to his 2006 re-election campaign.

Pawlenty says Democrats turned and left last night when Minnesota needed them most. He calls the Senate's abrupt adjournment irresponsible and bizarre. But Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson says Pawlenty presented a new list of conditions for both education and health and human services just as negotiations were winding down. He says senators crunched the numbers and believe it amounted to a reduction in school spending levels that had already been tentatively agreed upon.

[Ron Helwig]

By BRIAN BAKST, Associated Press Writer 54 minutes ago

Minnesota has never before had to suspend services because of a budget dispute.

Except for the last time it happened, a couple years ago. Of course they don't want anyone to remember that because virtually no one was affected. That would remind them that all these "services" are not needed at all.

About a year ago they turned off the onramp stoplights (used to "control" freeway traffic supposedly to prevent traffic jams) for testing purposes, and the traffic was bad for the first couple days, then was about the same. They ended up deciding that a few of them were not needed (which could not possibly be correlated to the study, which suggested that they ALL were not needed; and did not test turning off just a few).

The same thing happened when the transit workers went on strike - the traffic on the city streets and freeways actually improved.

[FTL_Ian]

Ahh, the day when this happens on purpose in NH will be wonderful.

[Klaus]

Welcome, Klaus!

Thanks, Kat!? You folks are doing great work in NH.? It is very inspiring to hear and read about y'all on NH Underground -? I hope to arrive soon and contribute in any way I can!

By BRIAN BAKST, Associated Press Writer 54 minutes ago

Minnesota has never before had to suspend services because of a budget dispute.

Except for the last time it happened, a couple years ago. Of course they don't want anyone to remember that because virtually no one was affected. That would remind them that all these "services" are not needed at all.

About a year ago they turned off the onramp stoplights (used to "control" freeway traffic supposedly to prevent traffic jams) for testing purposes, and the traffic was bad for the first couple days, then was about the same. They ended up deciding that a few of them were not needed (which could not possibly be correlated to the study, which suggested that they ALL were not needed; and did not test turning off just a few).

The same thing happened when the transit workers went on strike - the traffic on the city streets and freeways actually improved.

Ron, how you doing?? Yup, what with the holiday, not much of a problem except highway rest stops are closed...like that's a problem!? Just means the fast food joints and SuperAmericas and Holidays will get more restroom traffic.? I'd just pull over and go behind a tree if I needed to, for Bog's sake!? Driver's license exam stations are closed as well.? Might be an interesting test case...just drive without the
government "license" and if stopped and prosecuted claim that the "license" was unavailable thus not required.? Perhaps this shutdown is a good thing as will make many of the sheep angry at politicians in general, so may vote for anyone but incumbent.? Hmm, maybe I should run for something...

Klaus (Nik Ludwig)

[Ron Helwig]

Hmm, maybe I should run for something...

Klaus (Nik Ludwig)

Run for New Hampshire!   

Have you joined the FSP yet?

[Klaus]

Run for New Hampshire!? ?

Have you joined the FSP yet?

Amen! ? Yup, joined last October, actually...

NL

[YeahItsMeJP]

THis cannot happen in NH, Ian. In NH, if we do not vote on a new budget, we revert to working with the old one for the new fiscal year. Minnesota is one of the few states that does not have that safegaurd.

JP

[FTL_Ian]

I just meant shutting down... just stopping it.  (Fantasy land, I know.)

[Russell Kanning]

Minnesota is one of the few states that does not have that safegaurd.

safeguard ???