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Dayton seeks to expand list of critical state services

As Minnesota's state government shutdown enters a fifth day, the DFL governor tries to more specifically define critical services

July 6, 2011 at 11:33AM

Former U.S. Attorney David Lillehaug talks to Lucinda Jesson, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Services during hearings to determine which organizations will receive temporary funding during the government shutdown on Tuesday, July 5, 2011 in St. Paul. Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican legislative leaders return to the bargaining table. Budget talks fell apart late Thursday, and none were held over the long holiday weekend. Dayton had told lawmakers to spend the time in their districts listening to constituents. The shutdown has stopped everything from road construction to services for the deaf and blind. Dayton and Republicans are at odds over how much the state should spend and the governor's proposal to raise income taxes on the state's richest residents. (Associated Press - Ap/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Gov. Mark Dayton has broadened what he thinks are critical services that should be funded during a state government shutdown.In a filing late Monday, the fourth day of the shutdown, the governor said that crucial state services should also include special education aid, chemical dependency and mental health services, HIV case management and counseling and services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and other crimes. In addition, the governor said that child care assistance and services for the homeless, disabled and other vulnerable citizens should be included.The filing came as Kathleen Blatz, a former state Supreme Court justice, began her second day Tuesday as a special master appointed to review individual requests by agencies to have their funding continue. Blatz will make her recommendations to Ramsey County Chief Judge Kathleen Gearin, whose original court order broadly defined critical services that would continue to be funded.Many of the services Dayton identified in his latest filing had been the subject of Blatz' first day of special master hearings on Friday, and the governor's office said it believed the additions fit within Gearin's original order. Blatz has not yet made public her recommendations for funding.See the filing here