NORTHFIELD, Minn., July, 1, 2011 — Today is the first day for Minnesotans to see what it means to not have state government meet some of their needs. Few will be met. Much of the state is closed for business.
Yesterday I drove past a sign that said, “Rest stop open 2 miles ahead.” Listening to the radio, I knew that was not true. The rest stops closed the day before. McDonalds became the bathroom break.
Checking out of a department store the woman ahead of me said, “I really shouldn’t be buying this. I don’t know when my next paycheck is coming.”
Fibonacci Blue @Flickr
When the clerk asked if she was state employee, she said “yes.” The clerk said, “I hope you are back to work soon.”
The customer replied, “Oh, I am working, I just don’t know when I will be paid.”
She explained that she was in mental health and the letter she received from t the state said she must go to work. If she did not report for work her license would be revoked.
“I guess the state will be good for my wages,” she said. “Someday,” she added.
Estimates are that about one-third of Minnesota state employees are like this woman. They are deemed essential and will continue to work. Approximately 13,000 are in this category.
Estimates are that 23,000 are non-essential. Today during a work meeting, two were missing. They are employed at the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services. We hope to see them soon.
Two sisters-in-law are off. One usually has her busiest weekend of the year in July at a state park. Campers were ushered out yesterday by 4:00 p.m. Closed. The other is an attorney working for the Department of Administration. No administering of anything going on now.
My daughter cares for a neighbor girl a few days a week. Today was penciled in for ‘field trip day.’ However, one idea was nixed. The Minnesota State Zoo is closed.
MattJhsn
Until a few months ago, we had automatic deposit paychecks coming from the State of Minnesota twice a month. My husband was a state employee. I am looking at a bank statement imagining zeroes where the sum used to be. Nothing automatic.
That is what many state employees are facing.
It does not feel very Minnesota nice.
Please Comment: How is the state shut down affecting you?
More about the reasons why the state is in gridlock can be found here.
Read more from Donna Rae Scheffert at Washington Times Communities and Online-Leadership-Tools. She can also be found on LinkedIn and Twitter.
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