GOP Senators Aim To Prevent Future Minnesota Shutdowns

ST. PAUL (AP) - A group of Republican state senators hope to prevent future Minnesota government shutdowns through a plan to continue spending even if politicians can't agree on a budget.

The proposal outlined Thursday by Senator Ted Lillie and colleagues would extend current spending levels if the state began a new budget cycle without a new budget in place.

Lillie says it might remove an incentive for politicians to strike deals, but he says that would be better than another government closure.

The idea comes from a bill introduced by Democratic Lieutenant Governor Yvonne Prettner Solon after a partial government shutdown in 2005.

It comes a day after Minnesota ended the nation's longest state government shutdown in a decade.