2011 Minnesota state government shutdown
Encyclopedia
The 2011 Minnesota state government shutdown was a government shutdown
affecting the U.S. state
of Minnesota
, due to a fiscal dispute between the Governor
and the state legislature
. The shutdown started at midnight, July 1, 2011. The eventual budget agreement started to form after Governor Mark Dayton
announced on July 14 that he would "reluctantly" pass the last proposal of the Republican legislative leadership before the shutdown, but with conditions. On July 20, 2011, the government shutdown ended.
Going into the 2010 election
, the state government was facing an approximately $5 billion budget shortfall in the coming 2011–2013 biennium, left over from the outgoing administration of Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty
. The Republican Party
claimed that the budget was based on a previous unrealistic projected increase in spending and pledged to balance the budget without raising taxes. Former Democratic–Farmer–Labor U.S. Senator Mark Dayton campaigned pledging to close the budget deficit by increasing income taxes on the state's highest earners. In the election, the Republicans won control of both houses of the legislature for the first time in decades while Dayton narrowly defeated Republican Tom Emmer
.
The legislature passed budget bills which balanced the budget with significant cuts to social and infrastructure services, rather than raising any taxes. Governor Dayton vetoed 9 of the 10 budget bills after the regular legislative session had ended. Since Dayton did not call a special session
of the legislature to further address the budget due to the lack of agreement between him and the Republican legislative leaders, Kurt Zellers
and Amy Koch
, limited legal authority existed to spend money after July 1, although a Ramsey County
judge authorized a small portion of the spending. Because of this, major ("non-essential") portions of the state government were shut down as of midnight on June 30 – July 1, 2011.
Minnesota's state government can not operate without appropriations under law, as mandated by the Minnesota Constitution
. However, state courts have determined that Priority One and Two Critical Services must continue in the event of a shutdown. These terms are used to describe the types of state contingency planning, with critical/core activities – those that must remain uninterrupted to avoid a potential immediate threat to public health or safety, are considered Priority One. This extensive list has been compiled and prepared by the Minnesota Management and Budget.
, and sites run by the Minnesota Historical Society
, among others, closed. Institutions not part of the state government stayed open, and museums such as the Science Museum of Minnesota
reported an increase in visits, as did county parks, and attractions in neighboring states. On July 2, Ramsey County
District Judge Kathleen Gearin ordered the reopening of the Minnesota Zoo, which it did on July 3. In a similar case the same day, Gearin stated Canterbury Park
in Shakopee
would remain closed.
On July 4, Republican lawmakers affirmed their commitment to not agree to a budget of over $34 billion.
The government shutdown ended after Governor Dayton announced he would accept the last Republican offer before the shutdown, with certain conditions.
The Republican offer relied on a shift in K-12 school aid payments from 70/30 to 60/40, and issuing tobacco bonds to cover the remaining gap. Other provisions included increasing the per student formula by $50 per year to cover additional borrowing costs, adding $10 million more to the University of Minnesota to equalize Minnesota State Colleges and Universities cuts, and restoring funding to the Department of Human Rights and Trade Office. Documents released after June 30 stated that the Republican leadership included anti-abortion agenda, voting ID, and related issues during the budget negotiations.
Dayton's conditions were that policy measures on matters such as abortion be dropped from the budget, 15 percent across the board reductions to state employees in all agencies be dropped, and a $500 million infrastructure construction bonding
bill.
On July 20, the legislature passed the budget bills, which were signed the same day by the governor.
Government shutdown
In U.S. politics, a government shutdown is a situation in which the government stops providing all but "essential" services. Typically, services that continue despite a shutdown include police, fire fighting, postal service, armed forces, utilities, air traffic management, and corrections.- Causes...
affecting the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, due to a fiscal dispute between the Governor
Governor of Minnesota
The Governor of Minnesota is the chief executive of the U.S. state of Minnesota, leading the state's executive branch. Forty different people have been governors of the state, though historically there were also three governors of Minnesota Territory. Alexander Ramsey, the first territorial...
and the state legislature
Minnesota Legislature
The Minnesota Legislature is the legislative branch of government in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is a bicameral legislature located at the Minnesota Capitol in Saint Paul and it consists of two houses: the lower Minnesota House of Representatives and the Minnesota Senate...
. The shutdown started at midnight, July 1, 2011. The eventual budget agreement started to form after Governor Mark Dayton
Mark Dayton
Mark Brandt Dayton is an American politician, the 40th and current Governor of the state of Minnesota. Dayton previously served as United States Senator from Minnesota from 2001 to 2007 in the 107th, 108th, and 109th Congresses...
announced on July 14 that he would "reluctantly" pass the last proposal of the Republican legislative leadership before the shutdown, but with conditions. On July 20, 2011, the government shutdown ended.
Preceding events and issues
Minnesota elections, 2010
Elections were held in Minnesota on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. Primary elections took place on August 10, 2010.- United States House :All eight seats in the United States House of Representatives are up for election in 2010...
, the state government was facing an approximately $5 billion budget shortfall in the coming 2011–2013 biennium, left over from the outgoing administration of Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty
Tim Pawlenty
Timothy James "Tim" Pawlenty , also known affectionately among supporters as T-Paw, is an American politician who served as the 39th Governor of Minnesota . He was a Republican candidate for President of the United States in the 2012 election from May to August 2011...
. The Republican Party
Republican Party of Minnesota
The Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
claimed that the budget was based on a previous unrealistic projected increase in spending and pledged to balance the budget without raising taxes. Former Democratic–Farmer–Labor U.S. Senator Mark Dayton campaigned pledging to close the budget deficit by increasing income taxes on the state's highest earners. In the election, the Republicans won control of both houses of the legislature for the first time in decades while Dayton narrowly defeated Republican Tom Emmer
Tom Emmer
Thomas Earl "Tom" Emmer, Jr. was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2005 until 2011 and the Republican nominee for governor in the 2010 election. He represented District 19B, which includes portions of Wright and Hennepin Counties and the cities of Otsego, Albertville, St....
.
The legislature passed budget bills which balanced the budget with significant cuts to social and infrastructure services, rather than raising any taxes. Governor Dayton vetoed 9 of the 10 budget bills after the regular legislative session had ended. Since Dayton did not call a special session
Special session
In a legislature, a special session is a period when the body convenes outside of the normal legislative session. This most frequently occurs in order to complete unfinished tasks for the year , such as outlining the government's budget for the next fiscal year, biennium, or other period...
of the legislature to further address the budget due to the lack of agreement between him and the Republican legislative leaders, Kurt Zellers
Kurt Zellers
Kurt Zellers is the current Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A Republican, he served as Minority Leader of the House from June 23, 2009, until becoming Speaker on January 4, 2011. He represents District 32B, which includes portions of Hennepin County in the northwestern Twin...
and Amy Koch
Amy Koch
Amy T. Koch is a Minnesota politician, member and Majority Leader of the Minnesota Senate, representing District 19, which includes portions of Hennepin and Wright counties in the northwestern Twin Cities metropolitan area....
, limited legal authority existed to spend money after July 1, although a Ramsey County
Ramsey County
There are two places in the United States named Ramsey County:*Ramsey County, Minnesota, the seat of the state capital, Saint Paul*Ramsey County, North Dakota...
judge authorized a small portion of the spending. Because of this, major ("non-essential") portions of the state government were shut down as of midnight on June 30 – July 1, 2011.
Minnesota's state government can not operate without appropriations under law, as mandated by the Minnesota Constitution
Minnesota Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Minnesota, USA was initially approved by the residents of Minnesota Territory in a special election held on October 13, 1857, and was ratified by the United States Senate on May 11, 1858, marking the admittance of Minnesota to the Union...
. However, state courts have determined that Priority One and Two Critical Services must continue in the event of a shutdown. These terms are used to describe the types of state contingency planning, with critical/core activities – those that must remain uninterrupted to avoid a potential immediate threat to public health or safety, are considered Priority One. This extensive list has been compiled and prepared by the Minnesota Management and Budget.
The shutdown
The shutdown began on July 1. At that time, all less state urgent government spending and operations stopped. These included driving tests, child-care assistance, services for the deaf, senior and disability linkage lines, criminal background checks, and road construction. Many government offices, state parks, highway rest areas, the Minnesota ZooMinnesota Zoo
The Minnesota Zoo , is an AZA-accredited zoo in Apple Valley, Minnesota. When it opened on May 22, 1978 it was fairly revolutionary in its exhibit design. The zoo, built in a suburbanizing rural area, had more space to house exhibits and was one of the first zoos to organize its animals by their...
, and sites run by the Minnesota Historical Society
Minnesota Historical Society
The Minnesota Historical Society is a private, non-profit educational and cultural institution dedicated to preserving the history of the U.S. state of Minnesota. It was founded by the territorial legislature in 1849, almost a decade before statehood. The Society is named in the Minnesota...
, among others, closed. Institutions not part of the state government stayed open, and museums such as the Science Museum of Minnesota
Science Museum of Minnesota
The Science Museum of Minnesota is an American museum focused on topics in technology, natural history, physical science and mathematics education. Founded in 1907 and located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the 501 nonprofit institution is staffed by over 500 employees and over 1,600 volunteers...
reported an increase in visits, as did county parks, and attractions in neighboring states. On July 2, Ramsey County
Ramsey County, Minnesota
Ramsey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota, founded in 1849. As of 2010, the population was 508,640. Its county seat is St. Paul, which is also Minnesota's state capital. The county is named for Alexander Ramsey , the first governor of the Minnesota Territory...
District Judge Kathleen Gearin ordered the reopening of the Minnesota Zoo, which it did on July 3. In a similar case the same day, Gearin stated Canterbury Park
Canterbury Park
Canterbury Park is a horse racing track located in Shakopee, Minnesota, USA.It runs a meet that consists of 62 racing days from early May to Labor Day, generally holding scheduled races Thursday through Sunday, with racing added on several holidays throughout the meet. The track itself features a...
in Shakopee
Shakopee, Minnesota
Shakopee is a city southwest of downtown Minneapolis in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Scott County. Located on the south bank bend of the Minnesota River, Shakopee and nearby suburbs comprise the southwest portion of Minneapolis-Saint Paul, the thirteenth largest...
would remain closed.
On July 4, Republican lawmakers affirmed their commitment to not agree to a budget of over $34 billion.
Effects
There have been several effects from the state shutdown. Here is a partial list:- MillerCoorsMillerCoorsMillerCoors is a joint venture between SABMiller and Molson Coors Brewing Company, announced on October 9, 2007. The joint venture has the responsibility of selling brands such as Miller Lite, Miller High Life, Miller Genuine Draft, Coors, Coors Light, Molson Canadian, and Blue Moon in the United...
lost their license to sell 39 brands of beer in Minnesota. - The Minnesota State LotteryMinnesota State LotteryThe Minnesota Lottery is the official lottery association in Minnesota. The minimum age to purchase Minnesota Lottery tickets is 18.As a result of the 2011 Minnesota state government shutdown, sales of Minnesota Lottery tickets were suspended on July 1, 2011...
did not operate during the shutdown, and no tickets were sold. In an average week in 2010, the lottery generated $2.3 million in revenue for the state. - Minnesota stopped selling tax stamps for cigarettes, which must be affixed to each pack before sale. The Star TribuneStar TribuneThe Star Tribune is the largest newspaper in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is published seven days each week in an edition for the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area. A statewide version is also available across Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota. The...
reported that cigarette sales would have to a halt by mid-August, unless more tax stamps were issued. - The state stopped issuing liquor purchasing cards, which businesses need in order to purchase liquor from wholesalers. Many stores, bars, and restaurants renewed their liquor purchasing cards before the shutdown. However, the purchasing cards for approximately 300 establishments expired on the first day of the shutdown, July 1. Liquor purchasing cards would have continued to expire on the first day of each month.
- In an arson case at the former home of Governor Dayton near Lake Harriet, police were "investigating the possibility that someone [was] upset over last week's shutdown".
- Services for state parks stopped. An official for the Minnesota Department of Natural ResourcesMinnesota Department of Natural ResourcesThe Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is the agency of the U.S. state of Minnesota charged with conserving and managing the state's natural resources. The agency maintains areas such as state parks, state forests, recreational trails, and recreation areas as well as managing minerals,...
told the Pioneer PressSt. Paul Pioneer PressThe St. Paul Pioneer Press is a newspaper based in St. Paul, Minnesota, primarily serving the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Circulation is heaviest in the eastern metro region, including Ramsey, Dakota, and Washington counties, along with western Wisconsin, eastern Minnesota and Anoka County,...
that visitors were relieving themselves on the trails in Gooseberry Falls State ParkGooseberry Falls State ParkGooseberry Falls State Park is a state park of Minnesota, USA, on the North Shore of Lake Superior. The park is located in Silver Creek Township, about 13 miles northeast of Two Harbors, Minnesota in Lake County on scenic Minnesota Highway 61. The Joseph N...
, as the restrooms are closed, and that uncollected garbage has attracted bears in Crow Wing State ParkCrow Wing State ParkCrow Wing State Park is a 3,119 acre Minnesota state park at the confluence of the Mississippi and Crow Wing Rivers. The park interprets the site of Old Crow Wing, one of the most populous towns in the state in the 1850s and 1860s...
. - Vandalism occurred at the Afton State ParkAfton State ParkAfton State Park is a state park of Minnesota, USA, on the St. Croix River in Washington County. Its hiking trails offer views of the river, rolling glacial moraine, and bluffland it preserves. It is a popular place for birdwatching, picnics, camping, and other typical outdoor recreational...
where the main office was "ransacked" and a group of twelve "ripped off shingles and pieces of deck for firewood, burned additional furniture and wrote messages bragging about breaking in for free".
Budget agreement
From the first day of the shutdown on July 1, until July 14, there were no announced talks between the two sides.The government shutdown ended after Governor Dayton announced he would accept the last Republican offer before the shutdown, with certain conditions.
The Republican offer relied on a shift in K-12 school aid payments from 70/30 to 60/40, and issuing tobacco bonds to cover the remaining gap. Other provisions included increasing the per student formula by $50 per year to cover additional borrowing costs, adding $10 million more to the University of Minnesota to equalize Minnesota State Colleges and Universities cuts, and restoring funding to the Department of Human Rights and Trade Office. Documents released after June 30 stated that the Republican leadership included anti-abortion agenda, voting ID, and related issues during the budget negotiations.
Dayton's conditions were that policy measures on matters such as abortion be dropped from the budget, 15 percent across the board reductions to state employees in all agencies be dropped, and a $500 million infrastructure construction bonding
Bond (finance)
In finance, a bond is a debt security, in which the authorized issuer owes the holders a debt and, depending on the terms of the bond, is obliged to pay interest to use and/or to repay the principal at a later date, termed maturity...
bill.
On July 20, the legislature passed the budget bills, which were signed the same day by the governor.