State of Shutdown

Image via WikipediaThe age of partisan gridlock in Minnesota has reached a new nadir.  Democratic Governor Mark Dayton and the Republican legislative leaders have had six months to agree on a budget that would ease the state's $5 billion deficit.  Having found no middle ground between Dayton's wanting to tax the richest two percent and the GOP sticking to its "no new taxes" pledge, the state is (or will soon be by the time you see this) now under a partial government shutdown.

This is what will remain open, as per a Ramsey County judge's ruling:  State Patrol, prisons, tax collections, funding for the Legislature (including a special session), and payments to cities, counties and schools.

This is what will not remain open:  Highway construction projects, state parks, state lottery, Canterbury Park, tourism office, Minnesota Zoo, the State Capitol, historic sites, and places to get licenses and registrations.

Everybody loses no matter how this turns out.  Thousands of people will be added to the unemployment rolls.  The shutdown alone will cost Minnesotans millions of dollars.  And the inconvenience factor will be off the charts.

The GOP had better hope voters in 2012 have short memories of the shutdown, because their legislative seats are up next year.  Dayton's reputation may take a hit, but he's not up for re-election until 2014.  By then, he might decide that one term is enough.

The man most responsible for this mess is currently running for President, trying to get noticed.  What must Tim Pawlenty be thinking right now?

Oh, you poor, poor, pitiful creatures who inhabit the State Capitol.  All of your rigid political posturing and finger pointing has brought Minnesota to the brink of disaster, and you're acting like collective Neros fiddling away while the state burns.  You wanted limited government?  You've got it.  Just don't expect the rest of us to like it.