Politics & Government
Gov. Dayton to Begin Tour of Minnesota to Tell 'His Side' of the Shutdown, Budget Battle Story
Minnesota is now in its 11th day of a government shutdown.
Gov. Mark Dayton is embarking on a statewide journey Tuesday morning to explain his side of the Minnesota budget debate that has resulted in a state government shutdown.
In a whirlwind tour that begins in St. Cloud on Tuesday, the governor will also visit Rochester, Winona, Albert Lea and Austin over the next two days. Dayton also has preliminary plans to fly to Moorhead later in the week.
“I’ll be traveling throughout Minnesota to talk with people about why we’re going through (the shutdown),” Dayton told reporters assembled on the steps of the State Capitol. “The people of Minnesota overwhelmingly want us to compromise. I am willing to consider other possibilities; other reasonable alternatives.”
Among the possible compromises Dayton would consider is lowering and broadening the sales tax, increasing the tax on cigarettes and alcohol and ending certain tax breaks. The governor’s preferred method of closing the $1.4 billion gap between proposed budgets remains an increased income tax on Minnesota’s 7,700 wealthiest residents.
The governor also released a budget message “to all Minnesotans” on YouTube.
In a news conference after Dayton’s announcement, GOP leaders renewed their call for a lights-on bill.
Sen. Amy Koch (R-Buffalo) also said a GOP counteroffer is “in the works.” She did not expand on the details of the budget offer or say when it would be presented to the governor.
Apart from the temporary-funding bill, the GOP has yet to make a counteroffer since the beginning of the government shutdown July 1.
Despite whispers of a counteroffer, it appears GOP leaders and Dayton are still miles away from a deal.
“Any talk of increased taxes is generally off the table,” Assistant Majority Leader Sen. David Senjem (R-Rochester) told reporters outside the Capitol. “We compromised in the room (June 30). We felt we compromised enough.”
Richfield Patch will continue to follow the shutdown as it marches on. Here is a list of more Monday articles from around the nation:
Minnesota Public Radio: What's the budget fight about? $1.4 billion and much more
Find out what's happening in Richfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Minnesota Public Radio: Most state government work stopped, but partisan tweets in high gear
MinnPost: Several GOP legislators seem open to 'alternative' revenue proposals to solve budget impasse
MinnPost: Shutdown's damage to the Minnesota economy will be real, significant -- and incalculable
New York Times: Cautionary Lessons From State’s Shutdown
Politico: Shutdown? Minn. lawmakers still get paid
Star Tribune: Gridlock: Gut punch to businesses
Star Tribune: Schools face shutdown hassles
Star Tribune: Idled public employees holding on
Washington Post: No new talks scheduled as Minnesota’s government shutdown enters its 2nd week
To see all of Richfield Patch's coverage on the state shutdown, click .
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