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Judge Gearin gains clout amidst Minnesota government shutdown
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July 14, 2011
Minnesota: Minnesota government services have been shut down for 14 days due to a disagreement about the budget amongst legislators and the governor. In the midst of this, Judge Kathleen Gearin has had her hands full hearing cases to decide which government services are "essential" and must remain in operation and which of them must shut down. Services such as construction projects have been halted and state parks were closed, while other sectors such as funding for HIV/AIDS services and food assistance programs were ruled necessary enough to continue. People have voiced concerns about the constitutionality of the situation, since the legislative branch, not the judiciary, is supposed to decide where all the government's money goes. Gearin herself called it "a constitutional issue of extreme significance".[1] However, Gov. Dayton proposed a compromise on July 14th which could end the deadlock and, in turn, the shutdown.[2][3][4][5]
Footnotes
- ↑ MinnPost.com: Eric Black Ink, "Judge Gearin makes clear: This shutdown will hurt," June 24, 2011
- ↑ ABC 6 News: KAALTV.com, "Government Shutdown History," July 14, 2011
- ↑ Twin Cities Daily Planet, "Court rules some social services should be funded during the shutdown," July 14, 2011
- ↑ MinnPost.com: Eric Black Ink, "The Minnesota Supreme Court could rule on key constitutional question raised by shutdown spending," July 11, 2011
- ↑ MinnPost.com: Eric Black Ink, "Dayton says his proposed deal is bad for state, but better than indefinite shutdown," July 14, 2011
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