Today, the attorney general filed a petition in Ramsey County court to keep some government functions running if the state does not have a budget as of July 1st, the start of the next state fiscal year. Without appropriations, the executive branch does not have legal authority to spend money and keep the functions of government going. So, this petition is to get authority from the courts to spend funds to maintain the services that are constitutionally protected in both the state and national constitutions.
The petition does not specify what those services will be. That determination will ultimately be made by a judge. One positive development you should be aware of: the petition argues that any programs that are federally required should continue. There is no guarantee the courts will agree with that argument, but it is a strong indication that the Dayton Administration sees Medicaid services as essential. You can view the petition here.
There is no timetable on when the court will issue a decision on the list of essential. We will continue to update members as developments occur. If you have any questions about the shutdown, please contact our offices.
--Craig Wieber, Chief Fiscal Analyst