Resume (LATEST UPDATES)
Posted: 07/ 5/11 10:43 AM ET
The post and live blog below are a collaboration between Patch and HuffPost reporters.
On the fifth day of the Minnesota state government shutdown, Governor Mark Dayton (D) said that he's prepared to resume budget negotiations with Republican lawmakers to close the state's $5 billion budget gap.
"This is a terrible situation," Dayton told Minnesota Public Radio on Tuesday. Over the weekend, he saidto local station Fox 9 that the day of the shutdown was one of the worst days of his life and certainly the worst of his political career.
No talks were held to resolve the budget dispute over the holiday weekend.
The Star Tribune reports:
Minnesota stands to lose millions of dollars in revenue and get saddled with millions more in new expenses for every week that the widespread shutdown of state government persists.
In both subtle and stark ways, the shutdown that began Friday will bring new financial pain to the state treasury. Closing many operations will save the state some money, but an array of revenue sources as diverse as the lottery and highway toll lanes have been cut off.
Reuters and the Associated Press report that Minnesotans are expressing anger and frustration over the shutdown situation.
Over the weekend, Dayton faulted lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for failing to reach a deal to avert a shutdown of the state government.
Below, a live blog of the latest developments to unfold in Minnesota.
MinnPost.com reports:
An all-star group of Minnesota politicians has put together a bipartisan committee that has been charged with rapidly coming up with “a third way” to solve the state’s budget crisis and end the government shutdown.
Former Gov. Arne Carlson, former Vice President Walter Mondale and former U.S. Sen. Dave Durenberger are the movers and shakers behind the committee, which clearly is being formed with the blessing of Gov. Mark Dayton.
Minnesota Shutdown 2011: Budget Dispute Continues, Negotiations Resume (LATEST UPDATES)
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The post and live blog below are a collaboration between Patch and HuffPost reporters.
On the fifth day of the Minnesota state government shutdown, Governor Mark Dayton (D) said that he's prepared to resume budget negotiations with Republican lawmakers to close the state's $5 billion budget gap.
"This is a terrible situation," Dayton told Minnesota Public Radio on Tuesday. Over the weekend, he saidto local station Fox 9 that the day of the shutdown was one of the worst days of his life and certainly the worst of his political career.
No talks were held to resolve the budget dispute over the holiday weekend.
The Star Tribune reports:
Minnesota stands to lose millions of dollars in revenue and get saddled with millions more in new expenses for every week that the widespread shutdown of state government persists.In both subtle and stark ways, the shutdown that began Friday will bring new financial pain to the state treasury. Closing many operations will save the state some money, but an array of revenue sources as diverse as the lottery and highway toll lanes have been cut off.
Reuters and the Associated Press report that Minnesotans are expressing anger and frustration over the shutdown situation.
Over the weekend, Dayton faulted lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for failing to reach a deal to avert a shutdown of the state government.
Below, a live blog of the latest developments to unfold in Minnesota.
Today 12:48 PM 'All-Star' Politicians Look For 'Third Way' To Resolve Dispute
MinnPost.com reports:
An all-star group of Minnesota politicians has put together a bipartisan committee that has been charged with rapidly coming up with “a third way” to solve the state’s budget crisis and end the government shutdown.Former Gov. Arne Carlson, former Vice President Walter Mondale and former U.S. Sen. Dave Durenberger are the movers and shakers behind the committee, which clearly is being formed with the blessing of Gov. Mark Dayton.
Click here to read more.
Today 11:20 AM Back To The Bargaining Table
The AP reports:
Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican legislative leaders return to the bargaining table at 2:30 p.m. [CST] Tuesday.
Today 9:22 AM Dayton Prepared To Resume Budget Talks
Governor Mark Dayton (D) told Minnesota Public Radio that he's prepared to resume budget negotiations with Republican lawmakers amid a shutdown of the state government.
"I intend to call them this morning and see if they're available to meet this afternoon, or as soon as possible thereafter so we can start putting this back together," he said on Tuesday.
Click here to read more.
Today 9:08 AM Pawlenty Touts 2005 Shutdown In New Ad
Former Minnesota governor and Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty is hitting the airwaves in Iowa with a new ad touting the state government shutdown in 2005 that occurred during his tenure.
"Minnesota gripped by one of the longest transit strikes in history, why?" a narrator says in the spot. "Because governor Tim Pawlenty refused to cave in to government unions. Result? Pawlenty won. Minnesota government shutdown, why? Because Tim Pawlenty would not accept Democrats' massive tax-and-spending demands. Result? Pawlenty won. Tim Pawlenty, results not rhetoric."
Politico reports:
The most valuable asset Pawlenty has left is his reputation as a solidly conservative governor who balanced budgets without raising taxes. Now, that reputation is drawing new scrutiny amid the spending showdown in St. Paul.Pawlenty advisers contend that the shutdown will allow Pawlenty to highlight his record of holding the line on spending in a liberal state, contrasting that with the approach of his successor, Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton, as well as President Barack Obama.
WATCH:
Today 8:57 AM Republicans Gets Earful Over Shutdown
The AP reports:
As Republican Sen. Ted Daley hustled up Yankee Doodle Road in the lineup for Eagan's Fourth of July parade, some of his constituents wondered loudly why he wasn't at the state Capitol 10 miles to the north trying to end the state government shutdown that was in its fourth day.
"Go get your job done!" shouted Bill Egan, a 52-year-old salesman who said he's disgusted by the standoff between Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and the Republicans who control the Legislature.
The two have been at odds over the state budget since they were sworn in early this year. Republicans want to limit state spending to $34 billion, the amount the state is expected to bring in over the next two years, while Dayton wants to raise income taxes on the state's top earners to provide $1.8 billion more to keep up with growing demand for state services and prevent cuts to social programs and public colleges.
Click here to read more.
07/03/2011 7:03 PM Report: Arsonist Strikes Dayton’s Former Home
Police in Minnesota say they have reason to believe a fire at Dayton's former home on Saturday may have been the product of anger over the state government shutdown, according to local station Fox 9.
MPR News reported earlier in the day that a spokeswoman for Dayton declined to comment on the possible arson attempt, but said that the governor hasn't lived in the home since 1985.
According to Fox 9:
The fire did little damage, but Minneapolis Police Sgt. Steve McCarty said it may have been politically motivated by someone who thought the governor stilled owned the house.
WATCH:
07/03/2011 6:51 PM Dayton On Shutdown: One Of The Worst Days Of My Life
Governor Mark Dayton (D) says the day the Minnesota government shut down was one of the worst days of his life and was certainly the worst of his political career.
Dayton faulted lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in discussing the ongoing budget dispute in his state with local news outlet Fox 9's Jeff Goldberg.
WATCH:
07/03/2011 3:23 PM Metro Transit Still Rolling During Shutdown
Mendota Heights Patch's Danielle Cabot and Fridley Patch's Chris Steller report:
Riders of Metro Transit, the Hiawatha light rail line and the Northstar commuter rail can expect service to continue uninterrupted—though not indefinitely—during the current state government shutdown. Other contracted services operated by the Metropolitan Council, including Metro Mobility, could also run without interruption for at least several weeks during the shutdown. The Met Council operates most transit systems in the metro, including several bus routes servicing Edina."All transit service will continue operating as normal beyond the potential shutdown date,” said Metro Transit spokesman John Siqveland.
