While You Were Watching Television

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Minnesota government shuts down as talks fail

Michael Brodkorb, Senate Republican spokesman, updates reporters outside the governor's office Thursday, June 30, 2011 in St. Paul, Minn., where negotiations between Republican lawmakers and Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton continued throughout the day in efforts to come to a budget agreement to avoid a government shutdown at midnight.

Minnesota stumbled into its second government shutdown in six years Thursday, with a partisan divide over taxes and spending to close a $5 billion deficit becoming only more bitter as a midnight deadline approached and negotiations foundered.

Jerry Brown signs California budget without fanfare

He limited access to the signing ceremony - allowing only a pool of photographers and a single reporter - and took no questions

in a terse cap to a long and arduous path to closing a $26.6 billion deficit.

[Only one reporter and took no questions? Think the governor doesn't want to meet the people right now?]

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

UK general strike starts Thursday

Mike Jones of the PCS union moves placards in preparation for tomorrows strike.
Irish Times

The biggest strike in the UK for five years will cause huge disruption to schools, courts and travel tomorrow in the most serious industrial challenge to the British coalition since it was formed.