Wednesday, June 17, 2009

So That's What a Government Shutdown Looks Like

Posted By on Wed, Jun 17, 2009 at 2:23 PM

Casey Newton and Mary Jo Pitzl of the Arizona Republic take a look at what would happen if we actually have a state government shutdown because Gov. Jan Brewer and GOP legislative leaders can't come to budget agreement by June. 30.

Among the things we may have to do without:

• All Motor Vehicle Division branches would close, preventing Arizonans from getting driver's licenses, having their cars inspected or registering their vehicles in person. The MVD is making arrangements to make at least some of those services available online.

• The state would be unable to take abuse reports for children and the elderly, provide child care or cash assistance to families, or provide services to victims of domestic violence.

• The Department of Health Services would suspend operations, preventing officials from conducting investigations and tracking disease outbreaks at the state level. Coordinating the response to cases such as the recent swine-flu outbreak would be left to counties.

• All 28 state parks would likely close indefinitely.

• All state highway construction and projects would be suspended.

• Visitation at all 13 state prisons would be suspended, as would

programs that allow inmates to perform work for cities, counties and state agencies.

• The governor, lawmakers, attorney general and other constitutional offices could still operate. But there would be no money or authority for staffs to work.

• Payroll would be shut down. That could leave thousands of state workers without compensation for work they did June 15-30 because checks for that period will not be cut until July 3.