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Tim Nelson
St. Paul, Minn.

Minn. senators to petition high court to block 'essential services' rulings

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A group of four GOP state senators are going to ask the Supreme Court on Monday to intervene in the state's budget impasse.

Their attorney, Erick Kardaal, told MPR's Morning Edition they feel that asking the courts to keep parts of the state running may violate the Minnesota constitution. The constitution requires legislative action to spend state money, and lawmakers and Gov. Mark Dayton are at a political impasse.

Kardaal said the Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled after a shutdown six years ago that the Legislature and governor should come up with their own backup plan in the event of an impasse.

Kardaal said lawmakers haven't done that and that he's going to ask the Supreme Court to block a lower court from keeping so-called essential services running.

Ramsey County District Court judge Kathleen Gearin has scheduled a hearing Thursday on keeping essential services running. Kardaal said his clients hope to short-circuit her ruling.

"We're hopeful that eventually the Ramsey County District Court proceeding would be stopped," he said.