Minnesota Legislature: Minnesota's Budget Crisis



The budget impasse at the Capitol has resulted in a lower bond rating for Minnesota. Fitch Rating has downgraded the state's bond rating from the highest rating of AAA to AA+. (07/07/2011)
A closer look at the the Department of Human Services, the state agency that oversees health care and welfare programs for more than a million Minnesotans, and the sharp partisan disagreement over its funding. (07/07/2011)
There were no negotiations Thursday between Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican legislative leaders aimed at ending the state government shutdown, but an independent commission weighed in with its proposed framework for a budget deal. (07/07/2011)
Without a working state government, disputes over workers' compensation benefits are on hold, leaving thousands of medical insurance claims in limbo. (07/07/2011)
Midmorning gets the latest on the political stalemate at the Capitol, as Minnesota's state government shutdown drags in to its seventh day. (Midmorning, 07/07/2011)
Affording child care continues to be a concern for the 26,000 subsidized families who are cut off during the state government shutdown, now in its seventh day. A judge could rule to continue distributing funds toward child care. (07/07/2011)
Republicans are calling for a special session, but Gov. Mark Dayton said he's isn't willing to call lawmakers back yet. "We've got the same gulf between us that we've had all along," Dayton said. (07/06/2011)
Polymet Mining company will ask a Special Master to declare that state officials working on an environmental review of its proposed copper-nickel mine should be allowed to go back to work. (07/06/2011)
Minnesota's two most populous counties say nearly all their services are intact on day six of the state government shutdown. However, officials in the two counties say they are worried about timely arrival of state dollars which fund many of their services. (07/06/2011)
The state's six-day-old shutdown over state spending is costing it millions of dollars - a toll that will only rise the longer it lasts. (07/06/2011)
DFL Gov. Mark Dayton unveiled a new proposal Wednesday aimed at breaking the budget impasse that has led to the state government shutdown -- and Republicans quickly rejected it. (07/06/2011)
A coalition of labor and environmental groups called on state leaders Tuesday to end the government shutdown quickly for the sake of jobs. (07/06/2011)
Republican House Speaker Kurt Zellers said delaying payments to school districts and raising revenue through new gambling are both options when it comes to balancing the state's budget. (07/06/2011)
The Washington County Sheriff says 12 people were arrested after breaking into park cabins at Afton State Park over the July 4th weekend. (07/06/2011)
Gov. Dayton and Republican legislative leaders may resort to delaying more payments to Minnesota's public schools as a way to close a $5 billion projected budget gap. That's one tactic that both sides have floated as part of the budget solution. It saves costs to the state, but adds more burden to the school districts. (07/05/2011)

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