Budget Impasse, Shutdown Enters 2nd Week [POLL]

ST. PAUL (AP) - There are no new talks scheduled as Minnesota's government shutdown enters its second week.

Political gridlock stemming from disagreements between Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican legislative leaders on how to deal with a $5 billion state budget deficit has idled 22,000 state employees, closed 66 parks, halted 100 road projects and inconvenienced Minnesota's taxpayers.

The National Conference of State Legislatures says Minnesota's government shutdown is now the longest of any state in nearly a decade. Four states besides Minnesota have had partial shutdowns since it started keeping records in 2002, lasting from a few hours to nine days.

Minnesota had a partial shutdown in 2005. A deal was reached in the early hours of the ninth day and state employees started returning to work that day.