Posted: 7/5/05
By T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter
Minnesotaís first state government shutdown came with startling abruptness Thursday night (June 30) after Senate DFLers unexpectedly adjourned the Senate.
The adjournment came within minutes of both Republican and Senate DFL leaders commenting on favorable progress in budget negotiations.
About 9,400 state employees are affected by the partial government shutdown.
Gov. Pawlenty said he was startled to learn that Senate Majority Dean Johnson, DFL-Willmar, had motioned to adjourned the Senate, standing in a largely empty chamber.
At the time of adjournment, more than two hours were left before the partial state government shutdown beginning at midnight.
Some Senate DFLers, too, expressed surprised at the abruptness of the adjournment.
Sen. Satveer Chaudhary, DFL-Fridley, said he left the Senate chamber for a cup of coffee and came back to find the Senate was adjourned.
Pawlenty could not believe, he said, what he was hearing when told the Senate had adjourned.
ìItís an example of irresponsible and bizarre behavior that likes of which I donít think I have ever seen before,î said Pawlenty.
ìI was stunned by the naked cynicism of the Democratís strategy,î he said.
Pawlenty accused Senate DFLers of playing politics.
ìThey believe they stand to gain by making the people of Minnesota lose,î he said.
Pawlenty took off the bargaining table all previous offers, including the 75 cents per pack cigarette fee increase ó his healthcare impact fee.
But Republicans were on the receiving end of criticism, too.
House Minority Leader Matt Entenza, DFL-St. Paul, charged that Republican were constantly changing the elements in their budget offers to Democrats.
ìItís hard to negotiate when the target is constantly moving,î said Entenza.
He also criticized Republicans for including non-negotiable items in their budget negotiation offerings ó racino, for instance.
Entenza pledged his caucusí support for a so-called lights on bill that the Senate had passed earlier in the evening that would have funded human services, transportation, and other affected state agencies at current funding levels.
Senate Republican efforts to limit the duration of the lights on to a month or less failed.
House Speaker Steve Sviggum, R-Kenyon, said the Senate bill lacked sufficient votes in the House to pass.
Pawlenty did not support it.
House DFLers attempted to bring the Senateís lights bill onto the House floor for vote through a motion to suspend House rules.
But after lengthy debate, the motion ó which needs a supermajority of 90 votes to succeed ó failed on a 67-67 vote.
Rep. Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, said he came with the idea of supporting a lights on provision, but faulted the bill the Senate passed.
ìWhoís to blame,î Abeler said of the budget impasse, ìI donít know.î
ìTomorrowís another day,î he said.
The House and Senate passed the agriculture, environment and economic development finance bill on Thursday that provided funding for state parks and state forests, keeping campgrounds open.
Gov. Pawlenty signed the bill late Thursday evening.
Pawlenty line itemed vetoed a dozen elements in the bill.
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