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Minnesota Government Shuts Down: Back In Session

Gov. Mark Dayton and GOP leaders are working toward a budget deal that would end the state-record government shutdown.

 

(Updated, 5:35 p.m., Tuesday, July 19)

The overarching message to Minnesotans is “Be ready.” That comes from Gov. Mark Dayton’s chief of staff, Tina Smith, and Minnesota Management and Budget commissioner Jim Schowalter.

Smith and Schowalter sounded cautious optimism in a conference call with media on Tuesday afternoon.

“There are a lot of assumptions right now,” Schowalter said. “But it is important to remind everyone that normal operations will not resume immediately. The bills must pass both bodies and then be signed into law by the governor.”

Schowalter said that while the timing and enactment of the bills is still uncertain, after Dayton signs them, money will become available to the respective agencies. The money would not be available to the respective agencies until the following day.

It’s “unlikely,” Smith said, that state workers would go back to their jobs on Wednesday, noting the logistics of passing the legislation and contacting workers. Each agency will have its own process for resuming operations, and state employees will be given 24 hours notice to return to work, Schowalter said.

Smith and Schowalter concluded the call by encouraging Minnesotans to check out the Be Ready website, created by the state to deliver real-time information.

“We are moving forward with two things right now: urgency and common sense,” Smith said.

“The goal,” Smith reiterated, “is to restart the government as quickly as we can and get Minnesotans back to work.” 

Keep up to date with all our shutdown coverage:

Woodbury

July 19: Special Session Called, Shutdown Could End Soon

July 14: Done Deal: Rep. Kieffer Says She’s ‘Relieved’ Shutdown Will End Soon

July 14: Minnesota Government Shutdown Could End Soon

July 12: Frustration Sets In For Woodbury Couple As Shutdown Drags On

July 8: Brief: Lawmakers Representing Woodbury Decline Pay

July 7: Shutdown Could Hit Woodbury Job-Seekers, Families of Disabled

July 5: With Shutdown Looming, Woodbury PD Ensured Officers' Licenses Were Up To Date

July 1: Woodbury State Worker Takes Shutdown in Stride

July 1: Lawmakers Representing Woodbury React To Minnesota Government Shutdown

July 1: Shutdown Effects Vary In Woodbury

June 22: Minnesota Government Shutdown Wouldn’t Affect Woodbury Much

Schools

July 1: Shutdown Effects Vary In Woodbury

June 17: School Board Approves Budget, Fears Shutdown

June 10: Metro School Board Members Voice Displeasure with Proposed K-12 Funding

Washington County

July 13: Document: County Officials Outline Priority Programs Under Shutdown

July 5: Washington County License Centers Remain Open For Business

July 5: Washington County Nonprofits Take Wait-And-See Approach To Shutdown

July 1: Shutdown Effects Vary In Woodbury

June 29: County Board Meets With Area Lawmakers About Shutdown

June 29: More Answers On How Washington County Will Deal With A Minnesota Government Shutdown

June 24: Washington County License Centers Will Remain Open

June 17: Minnesota Government Shutdown Could Force Stillwater Lift Bridge Closure

Statewide

July 14: Done Deal: Rep. Kieffer Says She’s ‘Relieved’ Shutdown Will End Soon

July 11: Minnesota Government Shutdown: Dayton Plans Statewide Visits

July 7: Committee Produces Its 'Alternative' Option: Income Tax Increase for All

July 6: Day Five of the State Shutdown, Still Little Progress

July 5: Bipartisan Committee Brought In To Spur Budget Agreement, End Shutdown

June 29: Document: Judge Rules What's Essential in Government Shutdown

June 22: State Shutdown Would Freeze DNR

June 15: Governor Outlines State Services To Be Kept In Event Of State Shutdown

June 1: Lillie Responds To Dayton’s Charges Of ‘Extremism’

Opinion

July 2: Lillie, Lohmer Say Dayton ‘Created The Unnecessary Pain Of This Government Shutdown'

June 29: Rep. Lohmer: Lawmakers Eager To Finalize Budget

June 28: Rep. Kieffer: We Must Reform Our Spending Habits

June 28: Minnesota Faces A Crossroads

June 11: Working On The Budget, Waiting For The Governor

News Elsewhere

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If you are affected by the shutdown, let Woodbury Patch know. Email kris.janisch@patch.com or call 651-269-2432.

Related Topics: Budget, Gop, Legislature, Mark Dayton, Minnesota government, Services, and Shutdown

Dee O'Dowd

8:55 am on Friday, July 1, 2011

From Stillwater Patch: "The impact is pretty minor to the city since the Stillwater Lift Bridge issue has been resolved," Stillwater Mayor Ken Harycki said this afternoon.

The lift bridge was deemed an essential service and will continue to be operated by MnDot employees.

Reply

Collaborate

10:52 am on Friday, July 1, 2011

The legislature and the governor were elected by a margin of less than 2% of the votes cast. Their mandate was to do the job for all of us not to be inflexible ideologs.

Reply

Edward

2:03 pm on Friday, July 1, 2011

The Repubican final offer to Gov. Dayton consisted principally of two big loans: taking $700 million more from our schools, and borrowing from future tobacco settlement payments. This does not add revenue, it adds debt. And it’s what got us into this budget mess in the first place.

Reply

STW

6:07 pm on Friday, July 15, 2011

Our elected officials solve nothing. This problem will not go away in time, in fact may get worse. I won't mind recalling all!

Reply

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