quote:Minnesota's Government Shuts Down
By BRIAN BAKST, Associated Press Writer Fri Jul 1, 7:05 PM ET
ST. PAUL, Minn. - More than 9,000 state employees were told to stay home Friday and drivers found highway rest stops closed at the start of the busy Fourth of July weekend as a budget stalemate led to the first government shutdown in Minnesota history.
The Democrats, who control the state Senate, were locked in a standoff with Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the GOP-controlled House over how much to spend on schools and health care and how to pay for it. As a result, the new fiscal year began Friday, just after midnight, with only a partial spending plan in place.
"I'm frustrated and aghast," said Ellen Paquin, a clerical worker and 25-year state employee who said she worried about paying her mortgage after being thrown out of work. "We elected these individuals to do their jobs and it's a complete failure."
Essential services such as the state patrol continued to function, and an 11th-hour agreement was reached to keep state parks open over the holiday weekend. But drivers on one of the busiest travel days of the year found highway rest stops barricaded, and driver's license exam stations and other state offices were closed.
Nearly one-fifth of the state workforce was told to stay home and use either vacation time or go without pay. They will be officially laid off if the impasse extends beyond July 15.
"I'd like to say I'm sorry to the people of Minnesota," said GOP state Rep. Rod Hamilton. "This is disgusting."
The shutdown led to finger-pointing by both parties, with the Democrats accusing the governor of making shifting demands, and the Republicans charging that the Democrats wanted at least a brief shutdown to hurt Pawlenty as he prepares for a 2006 re-election campaign.
Pawlenty said Friday he wasn't aware of any major problems caused by the shutdown but said his office was fielding angry calls from locked-out workers.
"I'm willing to suspend my schedule for the Fourth of July and be here," he said. "It's going to take some leaders to rise above this."
The Capitol has been beset with partisan gridlock in recent years. The Legislature has 101 Democrats and 99 Republicans, and one third-party member.
During the months of budget negotiations, the Democrats had sought a tax increase for upper-income residents. The Republicans fought that, with Pawlenty advancing the possibility of higher levies on cigarettes and a casino at a racetrack.
Far from the Capitol, near Fergus Falls, many travelers pulled into the Big Chief truck stop on Interstate 94, not far from a barricaded state rest stop.
Larry Reid of Waupaca, Wis., and his family were headed to Montana and stopped at the Big Chief to walk their dog.
"We can't get to North Dakota fast enough," Reid said. "The sad part is that Minnesota used to be so good with these services, but they have let everything go to hell."
Ik zal mijn opperste best doen je in dezen te faciliteren.quote:Op zaterdag 2 juli 2005 17:10 schreef Johan_de_With het volgende:
[..]
Dank u. Kun je het volgende deel Sorry Sidekick of Appetite for destruction noemen? Allochtonenlingo mag ook.
quote:De laatste 20 mensen die hebben getekend zijn:
- NOVA uit geschakeld
- Arie Kanarie uit Speeltuin
- Medy van der Laan uit den Haag
- Francisco de pimp aus Amsterdam uit Amsterdam of course @ da wallen
- Pipi Langkous uit Westervoort
nieuwe verkiezingen? federale staat neemt Minnesota tijdelijk weer over? waarom neemt men niet automatisch dan de begroting over van het vorig fiscaal jaar?quote:
Wat nou weer?quote:Op zaterdag 2 juli 2005 16:48 schreef pberends het volgende:
[..]
Ik kom zeer zelden op MSN, vraag dat maar aan Harry_Sack. Mailen kan altijd.
Laten we er een paar Marokkanen op afsturen!quote:Zes Nigeriaanse agenten aangeklaagd wegens moord
Uitgegeven op 02 juli 2005 om 06:45 uur
(Novum/AP) - Zes Nigeriaanse politieagenten zijn vrijdag aangeklaagd wegens moord. Ze zouden verantwoordelijk zijn voor het doodschieten van zes mensen in juni. De schietpartij veroorzaakte een rel in de hoofdstad Abuja.
Een van de verdachten, de op een na hoogste politiefunctionaris in Abuja, gaf volgens aanklagers opdracht voor de moord. De politie claimde destijds dat de doden, vijf mannen en een vrouw, gewapende overvallers waren en omkwamen bij een vuurgevecht met de politie. Na de schietpartij kwam een groep handelaars in opstand en stak een politiebureau en auto's in brand.
quote:Op zaterdag 2 juli 2005 16:53 schreef pberends het volgende:
Komt er trouwens nog wat op tv vanavond... geen reet zeker.
quote:Canal +
00:15 Handyman 33: Spetters Om Je Oren : Erotiek
Cast: Anna, Marieka
quote:JON BON JOVI - Living On A Prayer Lyrics
Once upon a time not so long ago:
Tommy used to work on the docks
union's been on strike
He's down on his luck - It's tough
so tough.
Gina works the diner all day
working for her man
She brings home her pay for love
for love.
She says: We've got to hold on to what we've got
'Cause it doesn't make a difference if we make it or not.
We've got each other and that's a lot for love -
We'll give it a shot.
We're half way there - Livin' on a prayer
Take my hand and we'll make it
I swear - livin' on a prayer.
Tommy got his six string in hock.
Now he's holding in what he used to make it talk -
So tough
it's tough.
Gina dreams of running away
when she cries in the night
Tommy whispers: Baby
it's okay
someday.
We've got to hold on to what we've got . . .
We're half way there - Livin' on a prayer
. . .
We've got to hold on ready or not
You live for the fight when it's all that you've got.
We're half way there - Livin' on a prayer
. . .
We're half way there - Livin' on a prayer
. . .
We're half way there - Livin' on a prayer
. . .
This is like.....wuss musicquote:Op zaterdag 2 juli 2005 19:35 schreef Harry_Sack het volgende:
Ik wist het al en het wordt telkens weer bevestigd, Jon Bon Jovi is a wuzz
samen vullisbakken omschoppen voor de lol?quote:
Ghehe, wat is er nou boeiend aan Agnus Kant. Ik vind Gerda Verburg van het CDA nog mooier.quote:Op zaterdag 2 juli 2005 19:33 schreef DaveM het volgende:
[..]Agnes Kant
en de heer Nawijn naast elkaar??
Als hij die energie nou in een baan of bedrijf had gestopt, was ie multimiljonair.quote:Op zaterdag 2 juli 2005 19:54 schreef pberends het volgende:
[..]
Ghehe, wat is er nou boeiend aan Agnus Kant. Ik vind Gerda Verburg van het CDA nog mooier.
Die voorste is overigens zeer cool; die gehandicapte die de hele dag over de WAO praat als ie z'n mond open heeft.
De levensgenieters.quote:Op zaterdag 2 juli 2005 20:06 schreef Drugshond het volgende:
[[url=http://xs35.xs.to/pics/05266/192-01.gif.xs.jpg]afbeelding][/url]
40.0000 mensen.... dat is gewoon een stad... jesus.![]()
sympathieke vrouw en goede politica.quote:Op zaterdag 2 juli 2005 19:54 schreef pberends het volgende:
[..]
Ghehe, wat is er nou boeiend aan Agnus Kant.
quote:Ik vind Gerda Verburg van het CDA nog mooier.
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