state + local

Dayton has compromised. Why won't the GOP? They seem to care more about ideology than about the people of Minnesota.

DO NOT come back to your districts and make excuses or do a bunch of finger pointing.

vote them all out next time not just democrats not just republicans. VOTE ALL OF THEM OUT. but no that will never happen will it because until everyone wakes up and sends a REAL message to elected officials things WILL NEVER CHANGE?

What's the deal with these policy items? We're trying to figure out a budget here. Abortion restrictions and stem cells have no place in budget negotiations. Is it too early to start recall elections?

Conservatives who claim that charities should handle welfare... There are plenty of programs who need assistance so donate to keep them open or create organizations to replace their function during the shutdown. I know that all charities are seeing the results of the economic down turn so this is unlikely, but here is you chance to make a point about government otherwise stop complaining.

Those of us who live in the middle have a hard time understanding why compromise is so hard to accept. We expect our elected officials to work together and compromise. We expect them to take the best of ideas and make them work. We expect them to consider all sides of the issue and not draw lines in the sand. We expect them to work for the all the people of MN and not just those who donated to their campaigns.

Lay this one at Dayton's feet. He was a poor senator, he is a worse governor. Our state budget is bloated, it needs to be trimmed. I had to "trim" my personal budget by 1/2 to make ends meet, let the fat cat state govt. do the same thing.

Why the lights went out: "abortion restrictions, reduced collective bargaining rights, photo ID requirements, a 15 percent reduction in the state workforce, a ban on embryonic stem cell research, the GOP's political redistricting map ..." As they did in the regular session, Republicans were more interesting in shoving their social agenda down Minnesota's throat than in serving citizens.

The last I checked, when I went home before I holiday weekend - I had to finish my work first. I disagree with a refresh, what needs to happen is for folks to bend a bit - and work together, instead of being so rigid. There is righteous, and there is practical. This is a disgrace, an embarrassment, they need to all forgo pay until this is resolved. The Attorney General of Minnesota, has a DUTY to take the entire House, and Senate - and the Governor to TASK - and put them up on charges for not fulfilling their duties, that they accepted in election - and their responsibility to their constituentsm that they so easily point their fingers at each other - and we are the ones that lose. This entire thing, is just another reason why people are losing their faith in the system, and their government. (shakes head in disgust)

The Republican budget - there were nine or ten proposed - increased general spending by six percent. The U of M's budget was increased 8.8% over over their previous year's budget (it's on the U's website). K-12 education was fully funded. All of this was accomplished without raising taxes on the so-called rich, people who choose to live here but don't have to. Despite the Democrats fascination with socialism, the United States still remains a country where property rights are respected, and money is property. I don't have the right to demand someone hand over their property to me; and I have enough self-respect to not have the government do my dirty work for me. Dayton wanted this government shutdown because he believes it will benefit Democrats and harm Republicans. He's wrong. The majority of Americans elected a Republican legislature to do exactly what they're trying to do: restore government's role of establishing the rules of the game that are fair and enable everyone who's willing to work to achieve their goals through hard work and sustained effort. I will not be a party to the erosion of the principles of individual freedom and the responsibilities that come with it.