minnesota state government minnesota state government government affecting state minnesota result fiscal dispute democratic governor republican majority resolved constitutional deadline june republican leaders demanded bigger spending cuts budget met tax increases demanded tax increases started midnight july ended budget bill passed signed july important parts state government identified critical services court cases suspended operations state government services identified critical allowed continue percent state government spending continued eventual budget agreement started form governor announced july reluctantly pass proposal republican legislative leadership conditions government ultimate economic impact minimal politically influenced republican electoral defeat state elections factors important background going state elections minnesota government faced approximately billion budget coming left outgoing administration republican governor republican_party claimed result increases spending pledged balance budget raising taxes gubernatorial election senator campaigned close budget deficit increasing income taxes state highest republicans won control houses legislature time decades narrowly defeated republican candidate vote newly elected republican legislators affiliated movement anti government positions republican establishment republican legislators claimed popular mandate positions minnesota state government operate law mandated minnesota constitution state courts determined priority continue event services remain avoid potential immediate threat public health safety considered priority additional services designated priority list priority services compiled prepared based recommendations state agencies minnesota divided governments decades number past budgets brought state close state history governor republican majority house agree budget majority senate state government went day preceding budget negotiations governor formally proposed state budget february calling billion state spending necessitating cuts percent state agencies state projected billion taxes rest budget covered increases income property taxes promised campaign republican legislators led house speaker senate majority leader demanded budget kept billion negotiations went legislative session suggested compromise budget ultimately reducing proposed budget billion insisted republicans compromise legislature passed budget bills balanced budget significant cuts social infrastructure services raising taxes described budget compromise state revenue forecast revised upward called billion state spending increased billion claimed extreme right wing freshman republican legislators talk relationships republican leaders statement end session said middle haven moved republicans including legislative leaders consistently insisted accept budget billion citing polls suggesting public opinion session republican_party held rally calling tax cuts state capitol protesters supporting tax increases opposed republicans public employee unions gathered capitol multiple times including end session day regular session ended vetoed budget bills passed legislature said statement anticipated occur special session legislature address budget june claiming lack agreement remained contact legislative leaders sticking billion budget proposed late session minor changes end june approached urged governor session pass temporary lights bill final deal reached refused answer proposal grounds extending budget deadline serve goal reaching final agreement budget ended end june began midnight june july time began state government spending operations considered critical stopped suspended state services included driving tests assistance senior disability lines criminal background checks road construction state government offices state parks highway rest areas sites run closed commissioner said letters sent households relied department social services possible critical parts state government including public safety health care benefit payments care residents state facilities continued services continued amounted percent state spending days programs requested funding continue especially social service organizations relied state funding hear pleas courts appointed retired judge special master attorney general submitted petitions began asking court clarify programs continue judges issued july finding programs start including criminal background checks public schools local government aid complained governor legislature responsible making decisions services stay open previously heard case asked remain open despite canterbury park horse racing track pay summer determined zoo allowed operate legislative allowed zoo open july ordered canterbury park remain closed day effects state employees laid state federal government employees minnesota lost approximately million wages course court state employees received notices leading continued returned work laid employees immediately eligible unemployment benefits continued receive health insurance costing state millions week addition costs associated staff minnesota lost revenue sell tickets meant state lost million revenue daily minnesota stopped selling tax stamps cigarettes pack sale reported cigarette sales come halt mid august tax stamps issued state stopped issuing liquor purchasing cards businesses need order purchase liquor stores bars restaurants renewed liquor purchasing cards purchasing cards approximately establishments expired day july liquor purchasing cards continued day month alcohol brand licenses expired lost license sell brands beer minnesota removed shelves public schools remained open teachers continued paid following ruling interfered operations caused problems continued teachers renew receive new licenses creating property tax levy delayed fishing hunting boating licenses new drivers licenses issued taxes continued tax stopped services state parks stopped including roads making accessible foot causing number problems official told visitors relieving trails closed garbage attracted bears vandalism occurred main office group ripped pieces deck burned additional furniture wrote messages breaking free state run attractions closed institutions state government stayed open museums reported increase visits county parks attractions neighboring states arson case home governor near minneapolis police investigating possibility upset week total million revenue lost million spent expenses related preparing recovering overall disrupted state government activities lives especially vulnerable private sector work road construction minimal impact larger economy state budget agreement weeks little progress governor republican leaders proposals accepted july republican affirmed commitment agree budget billion documents leaked june stated republican leadership included anti abortion provisions voter requirement ban stem cell research budget negotiations republican legislative leaders legislative leaders toured minnesota case government ended governor announced july accept republican offer albeit certain conditions republican offer called approximately billion budget tax increases relied delaying payment school aid issuing bonds future tobacco revenue cover remaining gap differed previous republican proposals provisions particularly increasing student formula year cover additional borrowing costs adding million budget universities cuts restoring funding conditions measures social issues abortion dropped budget percent reductions state employees agencies dropped million infrastructure construction bonding bill final agreement reached republican legislative leadership called special session legislature july legislature met july passed budget bills signed day governor state employees returned work july facing unfinished work new problems agencies budget passed said approached republicans meeting ordinary citizens said wanted government services resume care ended feared worse budget deal legislative minorities said deal finalized view deal disappointed deal budget balanced sentiments balanced budget needed passed sides unhappy echoed political influence according poll blamed republican legislature overall said republicans legislature responsible said governor responsible volunteered answer equally blame expected partisans blamed party republicans blamed legislature blamed following representative authored continuing bill prevent government event disagreements governor legislature past sessions house commissioned policy brief research department published december looked bill require brief noted ideas considered including abandoned state elections members legislature governor election major campaign issue republicans lost houses legislature giving control state government republican legislators said probably reason electoral defeat national state issues influence result presidential race ballot proposed minnesota marriage amendment voter amendment ballot legislature ballot items increased turnout leaning voters winning control state legislature passed billion budget containing tax wealthy wanted political issue elections gubernatorial candidates candidates statewide office republican legislators claimed having balanced budget tax increase signature accomplishment speaker criticised republican rivals leaders alike means budget balanced
2011 Minnesota state government shutdown