Minnesota shutdown prompts political blame game

[July 01, 2011]  ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- The fight over who's to blame for Minnesota's government shutdown is on.

State government closed for business at 12:01 a.m. Friday after Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican legislative majorities failed to reach a budget deal.

Both sides are blaming each other.

Minnesota GOP Chairman Tony Sutton calls Dayton a "piece of work" and says he has chosen to inflict "maximum pain" to score political points.

Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Chairman Ken Martin accuses Republicans of driving the state to a shutdown to protect millionaires from tax increases sought by Dayton.

Budget talks fell apart late Thursday, closing state parks on the brink of the Fourth of July weekend, halting road projects and forcing thousands of state worker layoffs.

[Associated Press; By MARTIGA LOHN and PATRICK CONDON]

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