Sen. Latz Thinks Government Shutdown is Likely

St. Louis Park Sen. Ron Latz (DFL-District 44) said Tuesday that he doesn’t see a budget deal being reached in the legislature before July 1, which is when the state government would shutdown because of a lack of funds.

The senator made his remarks while touring the Cedar Trails Condominiums in St. Louis Park, which sustained during Sunday’s tornado. Latz added that he certainly didn’t want to see a shutdown, but said he hasn’t seen a willingness by Republicans to compromise.

“(Gov. Mark Dayton) has moved three times” but Republicans have not, Latz said. “They think they have a calling.”

In a written statement, Minnesota Republican Party Chairman Tony Sutton said that Republican leaders have adjusted their proposed budget when the revenue forecast enabled them to do so.

“The fact is, the budget sent to the governor is not the DFL rhetorical ‘all-cuts’ budget. It is a ‘live within your means’ budget that matches spending to projected revenue,” Sutton said in the statement. “For the sake of all Minnesotans, the governor ought to sign it.”

Despite the disagreement over the budget, Latz said he does see both parties coming together to provide funding for tornado victims. In Minneapolis alone, the damage estimate is at $166 million and rising.

“We’ve always come together as a state,” Latz said of past special sessions for disaster relief.

The St. Louis Park senator also said he wouldn’t be surprised if a Vikings stadium bill, as well as a bonding bill, came up during the special session.

Check back with St. Louis Park Patch for a closer look at what happened with your legislators’ bills during the regular legislative session.