As the clock ticks down to a partial shutdown of Minnesota state government, state employees, religious leaders and other citizens urged Gov. Tim Pawlenty and legislators to reach a reasonable budget compromise.

Without agreement, most state functions ? other than essential services ? will stop at midnight Thursday. Services affected would include operation of state parks; meat, agricultural and health inspections; road and bridge maintenance; and the "Highway Helper" program. Some 15,700 state employees would be out of work during a shutdown.

State employees and their union representatives held a news conference to explain the services that would be affected and how public employees would be hurt by a shutdown. At about the same time, a group of citizens meeting as the "People's Legislature" held a session in the state Capitol rotunda to urge a swift and fair resolution of the crisis.

Pawlenty and legislative leaders were ensconced at the governor's residence for a second day of talks aimed at reaching agreement on how to finance the $30 billion biennial state budget. The DFL Senate is seeking more money for education, health care and to keep down local property taxes, while Pawlenty maintains he will stick to a "no new taxes" pledge made before the session.

Surrounded by fellow state employees, Camille Miller discussed the problems posed by a possible state government shutdown.

"We want the governor and lawmakers to roll up their sleeves and come to a resolution that is good for all Minnesotans," said the Rev. Cheryl Indehar, a delegate to the "People's Legislature."

"The governor and the lawmakers of Minnesota have failed the taxpayers and I think it is a sad state we're in right now," said Bart Anderson, a road and bridge maintenance worker who would be out of work during a shutdown.

Union representatives emphasized that all citizens of Minnesota would be hurt by a shutdown, but that state employees would take an extra big hit ? no paycheck. Those who are able may use their vacation time, but even they won't be paid until the shutdown is over, said Eliot Seide, executive director of AFSCME Council 5, the largest state employee union.

"State employees work hard everyday," he said. "They're proud to serve the people of Minnesota. They get paid only if they get their job done. It's simply wrong that hardworking state employees suffer because Gov. Pawlenty and lawmakers can't get their job done."

At the very least, lawmakers should enact a "lights-on" budget to prevent services from shutting down, said Jim Monroe, executive director of the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, which represents 11,000 state workers.

Monroe noted that the DFL budget proposal is 8 percent less, when adjusted for inflation, than the 2001 budget. "There have been cuts," he said.

Members of the "People's Legislature" gathered at the state Capitol rotunda to call for a fair settlement in the budget talks. Michele Steinke (below), a member of the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition, held her niece, 18-month-old Abbie Manhard.

State employees outlined numerous ways they would be affected by a shutdown ? from losing valuable vacation time with their families to facing difficult financial choices.

Deepa DeAlwis, an agricultural chemical adviser, said she had to forego her first vacation with her husband and children since her husband returned from service in Iraq.

"I cried," she told reporters. "I was so looking forward to this vacation."

Instead, she is working and saving her vacation time to use if there is a shutdown.

Kevin Tucker, who assists drivers through the Highway Helper program, said if state government shuts down, he will probably ask his mortgage company to allow him to make late payments. His salary barely covers his monthly expenses, including prescription drug costs, Tucker said.

"Most of us live from paycheck to paycheck," he said.

Seide noted that state employees have gone three years without a wage increase and are paying much higher health care premiums and co-pays "just like any other Minnesotans."

MAPE Executive Director Jim Monroe (left) and AFSCME Council 5 Executive Director Eliot Seide briefed reporters on the many services that would be affected during a shutdown.