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State Representative Phyllis Kahn

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Posted: 2012-07-03 00:00:00
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“Lights-On” Bill Could Be Solution for Future Gridlock

ST. PAUL — Sunday, July 1 marked one year since the start of a 21 day state government shutdown, the longest in Minnesota’s history. Republicans in the Minnesota Legislature shut down the state, refused to compromise, and chose to protect corporate special interests at the expense of middle class Minnesotans. With another $4.5 billion budget deficit looming, and Republicans showing no signs of willing to work together next year, state Representative Phyllis Kahn (DFL – Minneapolis) is renewing her focus on a “lights-on” bill that would continue appropriations in the event of a budget stalemate.

“Minnesotans are tired of the gridlock, but with Republicans claiming that they ‘won’ the shutdown, and promising more of the same next year, we might need to find legislative ways to bypass the stalemate,” said Rep. Kahn.

Rep. Kahn has introduced a bill to continue appropriations in each budget year of a biennium.

“My ‘lights-on’ bill is modeled after a similar law that worked well in Wisconsin, and has been continually offered as a reasonable and orderly way to keep government functioning in the event of gridlock,” added Rep Kahn. “Thousands of Minnesotans are hurt by any interruption in government services and my bill prevents that. The uncertainty of an impending shutdown and the preparations that go with it also make our state less efficient and make it more difficult for state employees to do their jobs effectively.

“The loss of state employee salaries and buying power hurts our economy as well. Those lost salaries in 2011 weren’t being spent in Minnesota small businesses and weren’t helping grow our economy. It’s pretty simple: when middle-class families are struggling, it hurts our local businesses.”

The Republican majority introduced several “lights-on” bills near the end of the 2011 session, but did not act on them. Once the legislative session ended on May 23, 2011, Republicans began publicly calling for Governor Dayton to call a special session so they could pass a “lights-on” bill.

“Republicans had no serious interest in the proper use of a ‘lights-on’ bill,” Rep. Kahn continued. “They were simply using it as a political ploy against the governor. Minnesotans deserve better than political games and gridlock. We need a legislature that would not even consider going to a government shutdown. Absent that, it’s time to focus on a ‘lights-on’ bill to move forward.”

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