Employees in the three affected agencies begin to worry they may be out of a job. The public begins to worry that disease outbreaks won't be detected, that the safety of food and water won't be assured, that nursing homes may be closed, and that prisoners will be minimally guarded. Not a good scenario. Leaders of the House and Senate cannot agree on a tax reform package. With the tax bill in doubt, progress is halted on all major spending bills.
Time runs out on the regular session without any major budget bills approved.
That puts the entire government at risk of not having money to continue operating on July 1. Now, instead of MDH, DHS, and Corrections facing a possible shutdown, ALL state agencies could be shut down. Oh well, misery loves company. Chapters Six, Seven, and Eight are too long and painful to recount here. They basically consist of endless meetings in Special Session trying to hash out agreements on major tax and spending bills.