Minnesota Legislature: Minnesota's Budget Crisis



The Minnesota State Capitol was the center of activity on Thursday, June 30, 2011, as Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican legislative leaders tried all day to come up with a last-minute budget agreement to avert a government shutdown. Their efforts failed, even as state employees and others gathered outside to urge them to reach a deal. (07/01/2011)
The Minnesota state government shut down early Friday after budget talks broke down Thursday between Gov. Mark Dayton and GOP legislative leaders. (07/01/2011)
After the governor and legislative leaders failed to reach a budget agreement, Minnesota's state government has shut down. Midmorning gets reaction from around the state. (Midmorning, 07/01/2011)
Minnesota is in the first day of an unprecedented state government shutdown. How long will it last? (Midmorning, 07/01/2011)
Along with members of the public who might be affected by a state government shutdown are approximately 22,000 non-essential state employees who would lose their jobs for an unspecified length of time. (06/30/2011)
Protesters rallied at the Capitol on Thursday as rest areas, state parks and the Minnesota Zoo prepared to close — all likely victims of a state budget that might not beat the clock. Without a budget agreement between Gov. Dayton and the Legislature, a state government shutdown will officially begin at midnight. (06/30/2011)
Minnesota Zoo officials are hoping to keep the zoo open despite a state government shutdown. (06/30/2011)
More than 500 people rallied on the steps of the Minnesota Capitol today to urge full funding for state programs to support low-income Minnesotans. (06/30/2011)
Former DFL Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Tom Hanson, former deputy chief of staff and finance commissioner for Gov. Tim Pawlenty, explain the budget negotiating process. They were both involved in the 2005 budget impasse and partial government shutdown. What needs to happen today? (Midday, 06/30/2011)
Advocates for the poor expressed relief at a judge's ruling Wednesday that would preserve funding for health care and welfare programs during a government shutdown. (06/30/2011)
With no budget compromise in sight at the Minnesota Capitol, the reality of a potenital government shutdown is sinking in for thousands of state employees. About 22,000 will be laid off as of midnight Thursday. Many of them are preparing for a big financial shock. (06/30/2011)
Many people are in a last-minute flurry to take care of government business: renewing their driver's licenses, getting permits, even buying lottery tickets before non-essential services go dark at midnight Thursday. (06/30/2011)
Daily negotiations between Governor Dayton and Republican leaders have not provided a solution to the state's $5 billion deficit. With a government shutdown looming, what chance do last minute talks have towards reaching a resolution? (Midmorning, 06/30/2011)
Budget talks between lawmakers and Gov. Mark Dayton ended Wednesday night without negotiating a budget. Minnesota state government will shutdown at the end of Thursday unless an agreement is reached. (06/29/2011)
Ramsey County Judge Kathleen Gearin ruled Wednesday that while some of the state's nonprofit organizations provide services that vulnerable Minnesotans rely on, it's not a critical core function of the government to continue funding them in the event of a shutdown. MPR's Tom Crann spoke with Jon Pratt, executive director of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, about how the ruling will impact those groups. (06/29/2011)

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