Budget deal reached; state employees will return to work

[Viking12]

In the wee hours of this morning, Minnesota legislative leaders ended the state's partial government shutdown with the passage of a temporary spending plan and an agreement by state leaders on the outlines of a two-year budget.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty and legislative leaders emerged around 2 a.m. CDT from a nearly 16-hour bargaining session to announce the deal, which included the "lights on'' measure to send state employees back to work immediately. It will last through Thursday.

The plan, which restores funding for shuttered agencies at the previous year's levels, passed the House 106-9 and the Senate 53-1.

http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/5498398.html

[jean]

1. I heard this announced on AAR and it sounded like the whole impasse

was over - this is just the temp measure, though . . .

[katinmn]

They still have to push the budget bill

"The rest of the budget work will spill into next week, when lawmakers must pass two-year budget bills for education, transportation, health care and taxes by Wednesday night."

This is good news though. Furloughing employees was about to start costing a ton of money.

[no name no slogan]

3. I'll take this for now

I'm just glad my union brothers and sisters are going back to work Monday. Unfortunately, that may mean I have to work Sunday night, but I'd rather have them back at work.

Now, let's hope they can get a real budget passed in the next couple weeks.

If they don't get it done by Tuesday night, the current costly shutdown ($4 mil/day) will become a hell of a lot costlier...

WELCOME BACK STATE EMPLOYEES!!!! :toast:

[katinmn]

2. dupe