Day 18- Government Shutdown -open meeting law

Thanks to those of you who have asked questions:
1. "What the heck can citizens do to help resolve this shutdown? I don't know if you can post about that or not. But, we were chatting about it in my office today and nobody really knew what to do! Seems crazy to me ..
- The best thing to do is contact your representative or senator by e-mail or phone. Some will respond and others won't. But they'll get the message... here's how to find out who your representative is and their contact information. LINK
2. Isn't the Legislature subject to the open meeting law?
- Well, sort of. According to House Research: "The open meeting law that applies to the Legislature (STATUTE 3.055) applies to sessions of the House and the Senate and meetings of legilsative ocmmittess and commissions. The meetings between legislative officials and the governor are not meetings of a legilsative committee, and no official action can be taken at these meetings. Although the meetins may be important, technically they are informal gatherins. So there is no law or urle that requires these meetings to be open."

Day 17 Minnesota Government Shutdown

Those of you who know my background know where I stand on openness in government. I'll go to court over it, even get fired from a job over it.
It is difficult for me to even comprehend that our lawmakers are behind closed doors in the closed capitol and SOB crafting nine major budget bills that contain provisions that none of us are privvy to.
You may wonder how the meetings are not subject to the open meeting law. I think I wrote about this earlier, but there's a slight twist to the law, so these meetings can be closed. Those that are really interested in the subject, I suggest you follow Rich Neumeister's blog....Open Secrets. I have a lot of respect for this citizen lobbyist who is always out to cover privacy issues.
Anyway, I understand that even the Democrats are not involved in the meetings. BUT in some of the reporting I have read that "others" are brought into the meetings.... I hope that by "others" they don't mean "lobbyists." But I saw for sure one in the SOB the other day..... Just thinkin' that's all.
The bills are to be posted on line before the special session for public review. But let me tell you, as someone who has to write about these bill.... they are pages and pages long, and the language is cumbersome for anyone to read. I'll let you know when they are up online.

Day 12-13 Government Shutdown

What to write, what to write.... it's just more of the same. NOTHING on resolving the government shutdown. So, you ask, am I being productive at work? Yesterday we put the finishing touches on the Session Weekly session wrap up. Jam backed with new laws, vetoe, a great look at the impact of this year's group of freshmen legislators and a solid look back at how we got to where we are today. Here's the link to the HTML version. http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessionweekly/.
To stay informed with nonpartisan news during this uncertain time, follow Session Daily.
Also we're on Facebook.... like us. http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/MNHouseInfo
Today.... I'm home, writing some stories for Patch.com, and cleaning the house!

Day 11 - Minnesota State Government Shutdown

There's some debate whether today marks the longest state government shutdown ever. Yikes, what a title for Minnesota to hold. All is quiet at the SOB. We are putting the final touches on the last Session Weekly magazine for the session. We were going to wait until the end of the special session, so that would be covered. But decided to send it out now, cause who knows how long this shutdown will last. Today's photo shows the south door of the SOB. The yellow tape was not up last week.

Day 8 - Minnesota Government Shutdown

Again, no negotiations, no protestors out on the Capitol lawn.
I wonder .... where are the people? Where is the outrage?
I think a quote from my young friend may sum up where people are at:
Standing out on the steps of the Captiol probably won't get those idiots to do anything. What I can do that will help is to directly reach out to those affected and ask them what I can do to help them through this.GOOD POINT!
Here's a link to a really good piece on just what I'm talking about: How The Rules Have Changed.
I will not be blogging over the weekend. I think I will just quilt for a couple of days, and play with Mable.

Day 7: Minnesota government shutdown

I think the newspaper box inside the State Office Building pretty much sums it up. Since they are located in the "green zone," no papers have been able to be added daily. So there are last Thursday's remaining copies when we were headed into this shutdown.
Nothing has changed on the budget negotiation front since last Thursday either.
I heard today that the state's bond rating will be downgraded. What does that mean for you and me? The state will most likely be paying higher interesst rates on the money it borrows. But I think it has a greater symbolic impact. As Minnesotans, we have prided ourselves on being in the top tier of so many things: solid education, home of Fortune 500 businesses, and an ability to work together. What is happening to us?
Former Gov. Carlson and Walter Mondale set up a blue-ribbon commission to come up with a solution to this stalemate.

Day 6 - Minnesota Government Shutdown

Jason Moran of St. Paul stands as a lone sentry on the Capitol grounds with his message in hand. He has been there since Day 1 of the shutdown. The laid-off Minnesota Pollution Control Agency worker wonders why the grounds aren't filled with others in a similar position; why they aren't out protesting the shutdown. "I think people are stunned. I think they have lost hope that their government works for them." What keeps him coming back? It's hope. "The fact that I can stand out here and not get shot like I would in other countries, gives me hope," he said.