Another Shutdown under Governor Walz?

While Minnesotans in various job sectors across the state are required to meet the expectations of their job descriptions, lawmakers continue to waste taxpayer dollars as they prepare for a special June legislative session. If Governor Walz and legislative leaders cannot come to an agreement regarding the upcoming two-year budget proposal, the government will be forced to shut down. However, unlike during previous government shutdowns, the State Supreme Court ruled in 2017 that the courts should not be appropriating state dollars without voter's consent. Prior to the ruling, 80% of government functions were still considered essential, which indicates an obvious difference from years past. If a shutdown were to occur now, many more government jobs statewide would be affected - from state troopers to office aides.

Governor Walz issued a letter to 37,500 state employees warning of a potential government shutdown, lay offs and unpaid leaves of absence. Many Minnesotans argue that Governor Walz should abdicate his emergency powers in an act of good faith in order to reach a budget deal that benefits all Minnesota residents.

But it’s no surprise that Governor Walz would rather allow another shutdown to occur than give up his one man rule. Numerous small business owners are still struggling to pay bills due to the shutdown orders placed on non-essential businesses during the height of the pandemic. While Governor Walz continues to point fingers at House and Senate leaders about the standstill, it might finally be time for Governor Walz himself to also negotiate with lawmakers.