Minnesota Attorney General Starts Legal Moves For Government Shutdown

ST. PAUL (AP) - Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson is asking a state district court to rule that some core functions of state government must continue even if Minnesota government shuts down on July 1.

Swanson's office filed a motion in Ramsey County District Court Monday pointing to services like guarding prisoners and sex offenders, responding to disease and bacterial outbreaks, operating the State Patrol and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, collecting taxes and running veterans' homes.

A state shutdown is looming due to a continued budget impasse between Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican legislative leaders. The AG's filing starts the legal process of having the court decide which services must continue.

Dayton's administration is preparing its own more specific blueprint of vital services but is keeping it under wraps so far.