Some of Minnesota's most recognizable politicians – including former Govs. Arne Carlson and Wendy Anderson -- are hoping the state government shutdown does not keep them from getting their retirement checks. The Minnesota State Retirement System (MSRS) has asked Special Master Kathleen Blatz, the former state Supreme Court justice, to continue state funding for the monthly retirement checks for 14 retired constitutional officers or their survivors. The retirement checks to the 14 total $37,899.34 a month. While the MSRS pays retirement benefits to more than 30,000 recipients largely through pension trust funds, the group of 14 are part of a special elective state officers plan that is funded by a state general fund appropriation. The list includes Carlson, the former Republican governor who is now part of a group seeking an alternative state budget resolution to end the week-old shutdown. Carlson receives $7,570.22 a month in retirement pay. Others on the list are Anderson, a former DFL governor, who receives $755.60 a month, former Secretary of State Joan Growe who gets $5,007.39 a month and former state Attorney General Hubert Humphrey III who gets $4,459.45 a month. Still another is former state Attorney General Warren Spannaus, who gets $6,074.19 a month.