government shutdown

We knew it was getting close, but it looks like we can officially say the shutdown for the state of Minnesota has reached its end.
 

It's over. Finally.

Gov. Mark Dayton ceremoniously signed a dozen bills Wednesday morning that will turn the lights back on for Minnesota's government and close the door on a shutdown that was the longest in recent U.S. history.

In the course of three minutes, he signed a 10-inch stack of bills that will eliminate the state's $5 billion budget deficit and said that "effective tomorrow, be back to work." Dayton also said that the shuttered state parks, one of residents' flashpoints during the shutdown, now in its 20th day, will reopen Thursday.

The reason the resumption of services won't resume immediately, his aides said Tuesday, is that state law requires a day for newly-enacted laws to trigger the

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The end of the shutdown seemed on the horizon late last week, then both sides met and things slowed down.  While there are seemingly some hard feelings from both sides it, looks like there is starting to be some progress in getting Minnesota back to work and having services restored.

 
A state government shutdown that put thousands of employees out of work, shuttered parks, halted road projects and kept Minnesotans on edge for weeks was within hours of ending on Tuesday night, as legislators reluctantly began passing a compromise budget.

"We have a job we need to get done here," said House Majority Leader Matt Dean, R-Dellwood. "We're going to take some chances, we are going to take some risks and we are going to move forward."

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An area you may not have thought would be impacted by the state shutdown is alcohol sales, but that is becoming a reality for hundreds of businesses across Minnesota.  Also taking a hit in the near future are cigarette sales because as certain vendors run out, they currently cannot get more to sell.  Not getting the taxes from alcohol and tobacco sales could cost the state millions of dollars.  Governor Mark Dayton could use his executive power to solve this problem until the state shutdown is over, but will he?

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Will there be a midnight hour deal that prevents this or do you think Minnesota will shut down?  This whole thing stinks of political posturing for the sake of posturing.  It seems they are playing chicken for each others egos rather than truly working together for the citizens who elected them to office.
A Minnesota government shutdown became more likely Wednesday with each tick of the clock.

Budget talks ended late Wednesday after six straight days of meetings without a deal to break an impasse over the $5 billion deficit.

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