A top Democratic lawmaker says Minnesota can avoid another state government shutdown by giving Democrats control of the Legislature this fall.
 
House Minority Leader Paul Thissen marked the anniversary of last year's 20-day stoppage at a Capitol news conference on Monday with state workers who were locked out of their jobs.  Thissen blamed Republicans for the shutdown, saying they were unwilling to compromise with Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton.

Thissen also said the issues causing the shurtdown did not include taxes.  House Republican Majority Leader Matt Dean countered that Minnesotans said clearly they didn't want to raise taxes and grow government to end the shutdown.