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Thousands Of Layoff Notices Sent To State Employees

ST. PAUL (WCCO) -- Minnesota's Department of Management and Budget announced Thursday that it sent out 36,000 layoff notices to state employees by U.S. Mail.

Those employees should begin receiving the notices by Friday or Saturday.

It notifies state workers they will be ordered to stay home from work without pay for an indefinite period of time because the state doesn't have any money.

At the Capitol, lawmakers continued bickering over who's to blame.

Frustrated republicans hammered Gov. Mark Dayton for proposing huge tax hikes and not saying what he'll spend it on.

"The rhetoric is unbelievable," said Sen. Julianne Ortman, R-Chanhassen. "To say that our budget is somehow draconian, horrible and drastic for Minnesota, when just a little more -- $1.8 billion -- makes all the difference?  Between huge thunderclouds and beautiful rainbows and blue skies? I don't think so."

DFL Minority Leader Rep. Paul Thissen said that's just not the case.

"I don't think, Sen. Ortmann, that the governor thinks any budget that's passed by this legislature is gonna be rainbows, happy rainbows and all those things. I think everybody understands that any budget we pass is going to have serious consequences for the state of Minnesota," he said.

On Wednesday, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities prepared 6,000 layoff notices for its staff.

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