Republicans react to Dayton shutdown petition
GOP news conference from tommy scheck on Vimeo.
Republican leaders in the House and Senate say Gov. Mark Dayton's request to keep some state services running in case of a government shutdown is a political document.
Dayton asked a judge today to preserve critical services during a shutdown, such as like state prisons, security hospitals, the state patrol and assistance for low income people. During a news conference, House Majority Leader Matt Dean, R-Dellwood, said he was disappointed that construction projects, some health care funding and payments to schools would not continue under Dayton's plan.
"He's proposing not paying schools," Dean said. "Health care, he's proposing not paying providers. Transportation. He's proposing that we don't pay for projects. In 2005, Gov. Pawlenty said these were essential services and we need to keep paying these folks. Obviously this is politics. It's unforgivable and we need to prevent it."
Republicans also criticized Dayton for what they viewed as putting more time into shutdown planning than trying to resolve the budget stalemate. The two sides were scheduled to hold a private meeting on the budget this afternoon.
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