Shutdown referee makes first recommendations

06/29/2005

Associated Press
June 29, 2005

Holding down a desk job for the State Patrol? You’re safe, but get ready to jump in a squad car. Out of work and relying on state help to find your next job? Sorry, you’re out of luck.

Edward Stringer, the former state Supreme Court justice appointed to set funding priorities ahead of a state government shutdown, sent his first recommendations Wednesday to Ramsey County District Judge Gregg Johnson. Johnson’s final ruling will become a roadmap if Gov. Tim Pawlenty and legislative leaders can’t approve a new state budget before Friday.

Of the 12 cases he heard, Stringer advised that five pleas for continued state funding be granted and two be denied. The other five, he said, were already covered by Johnson’s previous order setting broad outlines for which state services would continue.

A union representative with the Minnesota State Patrol had argued that 25 officers who currently perform mostly administrative duties are still trained and equipped for patrol services if necessary, and shouldn’t be furloughed.

Stringer agreed, and said the troopers “should be transferred to active patrol duties to the extent they are road ready.’’

Other services that Stringer recommended be continued:

—State contracts with a company that provides ventilators and other medical equipment that allows sick children to remain in their homes.

—Funding for the Minnesota AIDS Project’s prevention efforts and care for infected patients.

—At least a month’s funding for transit services in greater Minnesota. Johnson had already ruled as much for Twin Cities transit.

Stringer denied a request from HIRED, a non-profit organization that helps unemployed people with job searches, which receives payments from the state’s Dislocated Worker program.

Such programs “are generally secondary to unemployment insurance and do not directly involve a core function of government,’’ Stringer wrote. Unemployment insurance has already been deemed a core function.

Stringer also issued a ruling stating that he would continue to hear appeals even if the shutdown happens. Johnson was expected to rule on Stringer’s recommendations as early as Wednesday afternoon.