Panel formed by Mondale and Carlson offers plan to end Minnesota shutdown

A political stalemate between Minnesota's Democratic governor and Republican legislators shows little signs of abating after seven days.

The Wall Street Journal: Panel Offers A Budget Plan To End Minnesota Stalemate
An independent panel created by former U.S. Vice President Walter Mondale and ex-Minnesota Gov. Arne Carlson called for spending cuts and tax increases to end Minnesota's budget crisis, which stretched into its seventh day Thursday. State government shut down July 1 after Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and Republicans who control the legislature were unable to agree on how to close a $5 billion gap in the two-year budget. Mr. Dayton wants to raise income taxes or find other new revenue sources, in part to shore up the state's health-care budget. Republicans argue that no new revenue is needed (Merrick, 7/8).

One of the key sticking points between the governor and the legislature is health care spending.

Minnesota Public Radio: Human Services: A Complex, Costly Agency At The Heart Of Budget Impasse
For months, the budget for Minnesota's Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees health care and welfare programs for more than a million Minnesotans, has been the source of sharp partisan disagreement. ... About half of the agency's funding is spent on health care programs. The rest goes to fund or administer a long list of services, including the state's welfare programs, direct care services for people with disabilities, treatment for sex offenders, child protection services, and long-term care for senior citizens (Baran, 7/7).