Woodbury Residents Comment On State Government Shutdown

Ask Angela Schenck whether she has been affected by the Minnesota government shutdown and what she thinks of it, and she’ll tell you: “Yes, it has. It’s a mess.”

The Woodbury resident said the shutdown impacts her ability to get needed medication—it costs about $3,500 for her daily shot to keep her multiple sclerosis (MS) under control, she said.

Washington County has helped to pay for it, and she has Medicare, which is helpful, Schenck said. She said she received a "vague" letter from the county mentioning that some services would be affected.

“I don’t know what’s going to be covered,” Schenck said. She believes she is cut off.

Schenck added that she lives on disability insurance through Social Security, staying home to care for her 18-month-old daughter.

She also receives assistance from WIC, the federally funded health and nutrition program for women, infants and children—which she says is vital for her daughter.

“I don’t want to use up money that isn’t mine,” she said. “The thing is, I really, really appreciate all the help that I get, like Medicare—I hear about some people complaining about being on it.”

Her medical assistance covers dependents. “That is so very helpful. … I mean, I don’t know how we’d pay (for medical expenses) without it.”

Still, Schenck said she isn’t too frustrated with the state government yet.

“It all just started, so I don’t know what’s going to happen,” she said.

Woodbury resident Dan Huse, meanwhile, said he sees the budget battle at the Capitol as a small-scale version of the federal government's problems.

“But, unlike the federal government—where they can just print more money—on the state level, it needs to be resolved, and it brings a greater sense of urgency,” he said. “It is a stalemate—and I wonder what will happen to the state as it drags on.”

Huse said he hasn’t been affected by it personally, though he is currently receiving unemployment insurance benefits and was notified that the system—anticipating an influx of unemployed state workers—would allow current unemployment recipients to request benefits a day earlier, on Sunday, July 3, so benefits could be processed promptly. Huse said he was reassured that benefits might be delayed but would not be lost.

He added that he was surprised about the Canterbury Park closing in Shakopee, Minn., and the state’s involvement with it.

“How much money is the state giving them? Suddenly, everyone is wondering," Huse said. "The Minnesota Zoo gets 71 percent of its revenue from its own operations, and they re-opened. The horse track doesn’t even get that. Last year, they had over a million (dollars) in revenue over the Fourth of July weekend. Why are we funding that? I haven’t seen much discussion about it. … It makes me curious.”

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