So the Mn State Govt. is still shut down. After looking a little deeper into it I find that most of Minnesota’s political problems lay within what is deemed “essential” or not I.E. Workforce centers ARE NOT essential, but entitlement payments are. So I looked up a list of what is closed and what is open and labeled the list with whether I THINK they should be open or closed. Let me know if you agree or disagree, most of the things that are shutdown are the money makers. You can check out the original list Here.
| Open | State parks: 66 state parks and six recreation areas are closed indefinitely. Gates are shuttered and campgrounds are dark. | ||||||||
| Open | State lottery: Ticket sales have ceased. People with winning tickets in hand can’t redeem them for cash. | ||||||||
| Open | Hunting, fishing licenses: If you don’t have it by now, you can’t get one. But the DNR will still enforce the law. | ||||||||
| Open | Highway rest stops: Most are closed. Three that partner with local agencies will stay open, including: Brainerd Lakes Welcome Center, Park Rapids Area Welcome Center and the Floodwood rest area. | ||||||||
| Open | Driver’s licenses: Driving tests are not permitted, but licenses can be renewed at a driver’s license agent office. | ||||||||
| Open | License tabs: State DVS offices will be closed, but deputy registrars could renew plates. City and county offices can also distribute tabs and renew plates. | ||||||||
| Open | Road construction: All non-emergency projects have been stopped. | ||||||||
| Open | Services for the blind: A radio reading program, training to walk with a cane and services to provide magnifiers are halted. | ||||||||
| Open | Services for the deaf: Programs, such as one that provides special telephones to hearing or speech impaired, stopped. | ||||||||
| Open | Historical sites: From Fort Snelling to Split Rock Lighthouse — historical sites are closed. | ||||||||
| Closed | Hotline for seniors: Seniors in need of housing, help with health insurance or other options won’t be able to use the hotline. | ||||||||
| Closed | Child care assistance: Low-income parents aren’t getting funding to cover cost of day care. | ||||||||
| Open | Tax refunds: They aren’t going out. But taxes are still being collected. | ||||||||
| Open | Nurses and doctors: They can’t renew their licenses — and may be unable to see patients if their licenses expire. | ||||||||
| Open | Veterans and the military: Tuition reimbursements claims stop, as do veterans’ outreach claims. | ||||||||
| Open | State Capitol: Closed to the public. | ||||||||
| Open | Emergency services: Employees handling homeland security and emergency response will keep working. | ||||||||
| Closed | State Patrol: They’ll still be on the roads. | ||||||||
| Closed | State prisons: Most employees stay on the job, including those dealing directly with offenders. | ||||||||
| Closed | Other law enforcement: Many programs stay intact, including the sex offender registry, criminal background checks, fingerprinting services, the state crime lab, and crime scene investigations. | ||||||||
| Closed | Education: Funding for K-12 continues; state colleges and universities stay open. | ||||||||
| Closed | Medical assistance programs keep running. | ||||||||
| Closed | Food stamps, welfare benefits, payments under the MinnesotaCare health insurance program, unemployment payments will continue. | ||||||||
| Closed | Workers compensation claims and benefits will still be processed. | ||||||||
| Open | Veterans homes and programs to help veterans. | ||||||||
| Closed | Health and safety inspections of health care facilities. | ||||||||
| Open | Child protection services, refugee assistance and state payments to cities and counties will continue. | ||||||||
| Closed | Nursing homes and treatment centers. | ||||||||
| Closed | Court system: The courts keep running at all levels. | ||||||||
| Open | Marriage Licenses will still be available at county service centers. | ||||||||
| Closed | Metro Transit: Buses and rail lines keep on running. | ||||||||
| Open | Minnesota Zoo: Originally closed, but now open. | ||||||||
