Michel: 'We Can't Pass a Press Release'

Hot on the heels of Gov. Mark Dayton filing a recommended list of essential state services should a July 1 government shutdown take place, Senate Assistant Majority Leader Geoff Michel (R-Edina) lashed out at what he called a "court and lawyer circus."

Michel and fellow GOP leaders held a press conference Wednesday afternoon in response to Dayton's plan, with the Edina senator saying the governor needs to "spend more time with legislators and less time with lawyers."

"There's no need for a shutdown, there's no need for a tax increase," Michel said. "And he should call us back into special session. Rather than running to the court, rather than sprinting to the court, we should get our work down. We should get our work done on this budget."

Dayton filed his response to the petition of the Attorney General in Ramsey County District Court Wednesday, submitting his list of state services which should be continued in the event of a shutdown "with a heavy heart."

"I consider virtually all services provided by the state to be essential, and all of them have been established by previous governors and legislatures to serve and benefit people throughout Minnesota," he wrote. “My decisions were not based upon personal preferences or policy considerations.  Rather, they were instructed by the words of the Minnesota Constitution, which I took an oath of office to uphold, and ensuing case law."

(Editor's Note: See Dayton's full response and recommended critical services lists by clicking on the attached PDF files above and to the right)

Dayton also called on the courts to help mediate the lingering impasse between himself and legislative leaders, in hopes of resolving the differences before July 1.

"My evaluation of critical services has persuaded me even more deeply that a shutdown would have catastrophic consequences for a great many people throughout our state," Dayton wrote. "I remain fully committed to doing everything I can to reach a balanced compromise with the Legislature on a fair and balanced budget before July 1st in order to avoid a shutdown."

Michel criticized Dayton for thus far not coming forward with the sort of specific information legislative work requires, saying the Legislature "can't pass a press release." 

"We need to pass bills," he said. "A press release that talks about a framework that talks about some kind of compromise … doesn't lead us too far down the path of an actual bill."