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| Date: | July 11, 2011 | | Contact Name: | Michael Brodkorb | | Contact Phone: | 651-296-4184 | | Contact Email: | michael.brodkorb@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| STATEMENT FROM SENATE MAJORITY LEADER AMY KOCH ON GOVERNOR DAYTON FORCING THE LONGEST GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN IN RECENT U.S. HISTORY |
(St. Paul) -- Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch (R-Buffalo) issued the following statement regarding Governor Dayton’s decision to force the longest government shut down in recent United States history:
“Despite his insistence during the campaign cycle that he would not allow government to shut down, Governor Dayton has not only allowed Minnesota’s State Government to shut down, but he has allowed it to continue by refusing to call us into a special session. Only Gov. Dayton can end this shut down, which is now the longest government shut down in recent U.S. history.
Over the last 100 days, the majorities in the Minnesota House and Senate have made several balanced budget compromise offers and have repeatedly asked Gov. Dayton to call for a special session to authorize a temporary funding bill. Instead Gov. Dayton chose to layoff over 22,000 people, suspend road construction projects and close state parks. He chose this, while keeping his personal chef and housekeeper on staff in the official Governor’s residence.
The costs associated with this shut down are staggering; Estimates of unemployment benefits, lost revenue to the state, uncollected audits, delays in construction projects and the loss of private sector spending comes in at nearly $65 million per week. Minnesotans are clearly looking for leaders who are good stewards of taxpayer dollars, which is reflected in a recent KSTP / Survey USA poll where 60 percent said Minnesota government should decrease spending with 27 percent saying Minnesota should spend about the same amount as previous budget have. Our bills reflect taxpayer sentiment by spending an appropriate amount, without raising taxes.”
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