Minnesota Government Shutdown Day 12: Social Policy Differences Stonewall Budget Agreement

While there is still a gap of $1.4 billion in Gov. Mark Dayton's and Republicans' proposals, it's more than just "dollars and cents;" social policy disagreements are making it much more difficult to bring the shutdown to an end, according to a recent MPR article.

The article goes on to piggy-back off of Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch's (R-Buffalo) analogy of trying to get a fridge through an inadequate doorway stating the issue isn't necessarily the size of the door or the fridge, but the fact that legislators can't agree on what goes in the fridge:

Dayton doesn't want to cut local government aid (LGA); Republicans propose steep cuts and believe cities need to share in state cutbacks and make cutbacks of their own. Dayton wants to spend $10 million more than Republicans on higher education; Republicans are proposing a 15 percent cut in the state's work force.

Basically, it's all about where the money gets spent.

In recent interviews with (D-Richfield/Minneapolis) and (D-Richfield), both agreed that differences in social policy are some of the main causes of the budget impasse. In addition, Thissen believes the budget wasn't made a priority.

"Two days before [the regular] session ended back in May, the House spent hours on a ," Thissen said in the interview. "And then we went to the last hours June 29, when Republicans came in with their first offer, but [it was] one with revenues tied to a page and a half of social policy. There isn’t enough focus on the budget and too much focus on social issues."

Currently there are no new talks scheduled between Dayton and Republicans for this week. Dayton began a tour of Minnesota Tuesday morning in St. Cloud to talk with citizens about his position in the budget dealings. However, Thissen said the gap is closing slowly.

"Republicans [and Gov. Dayton] have agreed that we need over $1 billion in new revenue," Thissen said. "Those are good signs."

Richfield Patch will continue to keep readers informed as the shutdown continues.

Here are other Tuesday articles about the shutdown from around the country:

Associated Press: Minnesota shutdown stirs debate over who gets paid
Bloomberg: Target Scion Dayton’s Plan to Help Minnesota Shuts It Down
Kare 11: Lottery dollars pour into Wisconsin during Minnesota government shutdown
Mankato Free Press: Local historic sites losing prime time to shutdown
Minnesota Public Radio: Still no deal; Dayton hits road to put pressure on GOP
St. Cloud Times: Dayton's housekeeper, chef among 'essential' state employees in shutdown
Star Tribune: In some corners of the state, what shutdown?
Star Tribune: Dayton offer goes nowhere
Time Magazine: The Cost of Minnesota's Shutdown: A Warning to Washington
Washington Post: Minnesota shuts down—to Pawlenty’s benefit?