New York Times article :

State Shutdown Is Possible in Minnesota

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: June 26, 2005

ST. PAUL, June 25 (AP) - If a standoff between the governor and Minnesota lawmakers over tax increases and health care for the poor is not resolved by July 1, the state government could shut down.

The stalemate pits Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a Republican, against the Democrats, who once dominated state politics but are now clinging to a power base in the State Senate.

The Democrats say they cannot accept the governor's proposal to cut up to 30,000 people from state-sponsored health care for the working poor, calling it a betrayal of Minnesota's progressive tradition. Mr. Pawlenty says Democrats want a shutdown to embarrass him ahead of his 2006 re-election campaign.

"I think it's a political strategy for them, sadly," Mr. Pawlenty said last week. Democrats say it is the governor who is playing politics.

"He's only interested in press conferences and TV appearances and doing talk radio," said Senator Dean E. Johnson, the leader of the Senate Democrats. "If he put half as much energy into solving this problem, we would have been done weeks ago."

It is not uncommon for lawmakers around the country to miss budget deadlines and go into special session to finish the job. But Minnesota has no law to automatically extend government spending past the end of its fiscal year if a budget is not approved.

A projected deficit of $466 million must be erased, and both parties want to increase spending on schools.

This would mean people will be layed off, rest stops closed, state parks closed, and some state funded programs will be unable to stay open or pay their workers. Today the state has closed primitive rest stops, tomorrow will be modern rest stops, and state parks may begin closing over the weekend.

Don't worry. NY State hasn't worked in years

LOL!

I have to ask.... if Minnesota shuts down is any body really going to notice?

I doubt it. Who says they've been working anyhow

I forgot they were a state!

More Minnesota news

Minn. Cancels 'Whorehouse Days' Festival

Organizers of the first-ever "Whorehouse Days" festival in Gilbert had big plans: a four-poster bed race, a beer mug-sliding contest, a showdown for best-dressed madam.

Now, they're looking for a lawyer, after the City Council's refusal to rent out public buildings effectively killed the festival that was supposed to start this weekend in the small northern Minnesota town.

Almost one-third of the city's businesses signed a petition against the event and dozens of residents protested at council meetings.

"The City Council's acting like it's the Moral Majority or something," said lead organizer Bob Cap. "They really played a number on us."

Some people just don't have a sense of humor.

So what, this whorehouse day festival...what, do you get half off admission to the whorehouses or something?

Free samples?

You also get bad chickens? COUNT ME IN!

What if it's sex with food, like say a chicken, then I think that takes on a whole new set of problems......heh?

That's right, Bad, very bad.....