Gee Golly

The Minnesota state government has shut down for the first time in the state's history. Considering the Independence Day celebrations this weekend, the shut down could not have come at a worse time. From the Washington Post:

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- More than 9,000 state employees were told to stay home Friday and drivers found highway rest stops closed at the start of the busy Fourth of July weekend as a budget stalemate led to the first government shutdown in Minnesota history.

The Democrats, who control the state Senate, were locked in a standoff with Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the GOP-controlled House over how much to spend on schools and health care and how to pay for it. As a result, the new fiscal year began Friday, just after midnight, with only a partial spending plan in place.
...
The shutdown led to finger-pointing by both parties, with the Democrats accusing the governor of making shifting demands, and the Republicans charging that the Democrats wanted at least a brief shutdown to hurt Pawlenty as he prepares for a 2006 re-election campaign.

Frankly, I'm a bit unimpressed by the Minnesota Democrat's defense; what the hell are "shifting demands." At least the state's GOP accusation has a bit of penache.

Minnesota isn't the only state that was unable to push a budget through by the July 1 deadline: however, of the 11 total states that had no budget by the deadline (which includes California, Delaware, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin) Minnesota is the only one of them that compels a shut down of the state government.

Every state suffers different consequences if it fails to pass a budget funding state services.

At least 20 states would order a government shutdown.

In 12 states, government services would continue without legislative action, such as our neighbors in Wisconsin, who would operate month-to-month if the state didn't reach a budget agreement.

And 11 states require funding resolutions.

This tells me that that the reformation of how the state handles missed budget deadlines should be at the top of its agenda at its next session; that way, 9,000 people won't be out of work.

Of course, the shut down won't keep the state from partying like it's 1905, as Minnesota is set to celebrate it's 100th birthday.

A number of events are planned for the Fourth of July as part of a yearlong series of commemorations to mark the Capitol's centennial. An all-comers public chorus will sing patriotic songs at the Capitol at noon, while there will be additional singing and dancing inside and outside the building.

Actors portraying historic figures, including Cass Gilbert, the architect who designed the Capitol, and John Johnson, who was Minnesota's governor when it opened in 1905, will roam the events. Tours of the Capitol will be available.

A parade that had been planned to commemorate the day has been canceled. Instead, there will be vintage 1905 games, including an ice-cream eating contest and sack races, according to Sylvia Olson of Tunheim Partners, which is helping coordinate the events.

Nothing says fiscal crisis like ice cream and sack races.