Minnesota government reopens and Network partners react to budget agreement

Before a deal struck between Democratic Governor Mark Dayton and the Republican held state legislature passed this week, the state of Minnesota had effectively shut down for three weeks due to the lack of a budget. Network partners and other groups weigh in and provide some insight into the effects of the shutdown, and what happens now:

Network partner TakeAction Minnesota examines the budget deal and how it does not really solve any of the long terms problems facing the state: the deal increases the state’s debt load and does not create a progressive income tax structure.

On their Budget Bites blog, Network partner Minnesota Council of Nonprofits also looks at the budget deal and how service cuts will adversely impact the residents of the state. The Budget Bites blog has continued to examine the agreement, with further posting on their front page.

While the state had been in shutdown, the public’s access to government had also been shut down. Sunshine Review notes that many of the meetings to resolve the budget crisis took place behind closed doors, even though state laws say that they should have been taking place in the open the whole time.

Common Cause Minnesota executive director Mike Dean spoke to the Minneapolis Star Tribune about the reopening of state government, and Common Cause’s role in getting the doors of the capitol reopened. Dean told the Star Tribune: “We used to be a shining example of good government, but we’ve lost our way. We are accepting mediocrity, we are accepting secrecy and we are getting the government we deserve.”

Common Cause Minnesota also wrote to the Governor and legislative leaders about opening up the process before the bill had been introduced and passed. Read their appeal to Minnesota elected officials at the Common Cause blog.

The MinnPost reports that in the aftermath of the budget crisis, some lawmakers have been examining ways to make sure a shutdown never happens again. A law similar to one in Wisconsin, that would continue the existing budget into the new fiscal year if a deal is not reached, has been floated, but not formally discussed between the legislature and the governor.