On May 5th, Senator Sean Nienow, R- Cambridge, offered three different measures that would avoid a complete government shutdown in case the legislature missed the midnight deadline tonight. None of the measures passed, nor had companion bills in the House. With hours remaining and Governor Dayton threatening vetoes on budget bills, legislators may regret not passing Nienow’s plans which had co-sponsorship from Sen Dan Hall, R-Burnsville, Sen Roger Chamberlain, R-Lino Lakes, Sen Paul Gazelka, R-Nisswa, and Sen Eric Pratt, R-Prior Lake.
The three different bills included an option to continue services that protect life, safety, and property, an option to allow state government to continue functioning at 70 percent of existing spending levels, and an option that would prohibit legislators and Governor Dayton from being paid until major finance and revenue bills have been enacted.
House Speaker Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, has continued to express optimism about ending the session on time throughout budget negotiations.
The Capitol building will be shut down beginning tomorrow to continue the major renovations to the building. The legislators may be working out on the front lawn, as Governor Dayton has stated, but the rest of the public could be out of luck when it comes to a functioning government tomorrow.