Nonprofit groups not considered 'essential'

Ramsey County Judge Kathleen Gearin ruled Wednesday that some state services are "essential," and should continue to function even if Minnesota' state government shuts down on July 1.

She added that while some of the state's nonprofit organizations provide services that vulnerable Minnesotans rely on, it's not a critical core function of the government to continue funding them in the event of a shutdown.

MPR's Tom Crann spoke with Jon Pratt, executive director of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, about how the ruling will impact those groups.