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State Representative Paul Anderson
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4317
For more information contact: House GOP Communications 651-296-5520
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN UPDATE
News From Representative Anderson
There was still hope throughout the evening of June 30th as members of the Legislature milled about the Capital, waiting for word of a breakthrough in negotiations between Governor Dayton and legislative leaders. As the hours ticked by, that hope faded. And shortly after 10 o’clock, the Governor told a packed crowd in his reception room that there was no agreement, and that a shutdown would begin in less than two hours.
His announcement wasn’t the ending that anyone wanted to hear. It meant that, after five months of session and another five weeks of high-level negotiations, an agreement on dealing with the state’s projected budget deficit for the coming two years was not reached. With no new funding appropriated by the Legislature, the state was forced to partially shut down.
A Ramsey County judge issued a ruling last week stating what state services were deemed “essential” and would remain available. Scheduled payments to local units of government (LGA) will be made in July, in addition to state aid payments to school districts. Also ruled essential were nursing homes, food and health inspections, veterans’ homes, newborn screenings, and WIC programs.
The Department of Labor and Industry was also listed as being able to continue construction inspections. However, after checking to get a clarification, I learned it’s a narrow interpretation and pertains only to inspections where imminent danger or catastrophic situations exist. During the shutdown, there will be no routine electrical, plumbing, elevator or boiler inspections unless authority has already been delegated to a local unit of government. In addition, there will be no state electrical safety inspections for carnivals, circuses, fairs and festivals.
Many are asking, “Why did it come to this?” It’s about more than simply increasing the tax rate on the wealthy, it’s about continuing the unsustainable growth of government spending. And if we simply increase taxes today, we will be back in the same situation two years from now. It’s about what Minnesota can afford, today, tomorrow, and ten years down the road.
There was general agreement on six of the budget bills, and together they account for over half the total budget. To me it would have made all of this a lot less painful if we could have come together and passed those bills. Shutting down nearly all highway and other construction projects going on in the state is not a good thing. A “lights-on” bill that would have given those involved in the negotiations a few more days to work out a deal was also a possibility.
We will continue working to come up with an agreement to make this shutdown as short as possible.
The information below indicates which government services are available and which services are not because of the government shutdown.
BUSINESS PERMITTING
State agencies stop processing business permits or registering new enterprises. No tax refunds would be issued.
CITIES/COUNTIES
Local Government Aid payments continue.
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
The University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities remain open and have enough funding to operate for the next few months.
COURTS
Open.
DRIVER AND VEHICLE SERVICES
Offices closed and no driver tests available, but you may renew license plates and licenses at city and county offices.
EDUCATION
Public schools are deemed a core service (state payments are not specifically mentioned in court order).
HEALTH
Health Dept. staff could respond to a disease outbreak, operate the Poison Control Center and conduct limited food inspections. Medicaid, MFIP, General Assistance, MN Supplemental aid, Group Residential Housing, MN Care, Food Support, Food Assistance, Adoption Assistance continue.
HEALTH CARE FACILITIES
Nursing Homes, residential academies, state hospitals remain open.
HIGHWAY REST STOPS
Closed.
HISTORICAL SITES, MUSEUMS
The Minnesota Historical Society's 26 historic sites and museums close.
HUMAN SERVICES
Food stamps and welfare benefits continue.
HUNTING, FISHING LICENSES
Will not be issued. DNR officers continue enforcement.
JOB TRAINING CENTERS
Closed.
LOTTERY
Closed.
MILITARY
The Department of Veterans Affairs will keep veterans homes open, along with critical assistance programs and the state Veterans Cemetery. Tuition reimbursement claims stop and veterans' outreach claims offices close. Camp Ripley will keep support staff for scheduled military training. Guard members training for deployments are on federal active-duty status and will not be affected.
MINNESOTA MANAGEMENT & BUDGET
Minimal employees needed to maintain employee insurance, payroll, HR management and other budget functions continue.
POLUTION CONTROL AGENCY
Will respond to environmental emergencies, maintain safety and health-related equipment at certain closed landfills and other cleanup sites, and would notify citizens of an air quality alert.
PUBLIC SAFETY
State Patrol, crime labs, Homeland Security, stay open. Most prison employees retained.
RACE TRACKS
Canterbury Park and Running Aces will not be allowed to run races.
SCIENCE MUSEUM
The Science Museum of Minnesota remains open.
STATE PARKS
Closed. Campers with reservations between Thursday and July 14 can cancel them beginning at 8 a.m. Monday and avoid standard cancellation fees. To do so, they should call 1-866-857-2757.
STILLWATER LIFT BRIDGE
Closed to vehicle traffic, unless an appeal by legislative leaders is approved.
TAXES
Revenue tax processing continues. No refund checks issued. Tax court closed.
TRANSPORTATION
Most state-funded road construction projects stop (an estimated 200), except for emergency repairs. The Metropolitan Council can use its reserves to keep buses and rail lines operating for at least a month. The Minnesota Valley Transit Authority, which operates many south-metro bus lines, plans to keep buses rolling with reserve funds for up to 60 days.
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
Unemployment claims, benefit payments, and collections continue.
WORKERS
Workers comp claims and benefits activities processed. Workers comp appeals court closed.
ZOOS
Minnesota Zoo is closed. Como Park Zoo and Conservatory stays open.
News Items
- ANDERSON TAKES HOUSE OATH - (Posted: Jan 8 2013 12:00AM)
- Legislative begins this week - (Posted: Jan 11 2013 3:36PM)
- Current surplus allows K-12 repayment - (Posted: Dec 10 2012 12:00AM)
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