Once it was known as "the state that works". But Minnesota has now joined Tennessee as only the second state for a decade to face a shutdown. Because its politicians failed to agree on a two-year budget by the statutory deadline, July 1st, 9,000 state employees are now out of work. State health-care programmes are still running, and parks were kept open for the July 4th holiday, but "non-essential" services-such as renewing driving licences—have been suspended. Voters are furious, but the shutdown is a cathartic moment after several years of malevolent political torpor. The ostensible reason for the breakdown is split government. Democrats, who used to regard this traditionally liberal state as their bailiwick, remain narrowly in charge in the Senate, but Minnesota now has a Republican governor, Tim Pawlenty, and a small Republican majority in the House.
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