Minnesota GOP Government Shutdown Pool

Republicans in Minnesota tried to conduct an NCAA tournament-style betting pool on the outcome of a state budget crisis that threatened the future of local government and the jobs and livelihood of over 36,000 workers.

“This is an ‘IN-HOUSE’ document intended for staff only-just for fun. Thanks, and good luck”.

Players would a wager on the likelihood of an increase in Minnesota’s income tax, the expansion of state gambling, and the chances of Gonzaga making it past the second round. Only a dollar to play! A dollar, and absolutely no f**king compassion for the people you’re supposed to be representing.

From CBS Minnesota, which sounds like the oldest, slowest thing ever:

“This is disgusting,” said Eliot Seide, the head of AFSCME, Minnesota’s largest state workers union. “Thanks and good luck? Make a bet on how long our people are going to be out of work? What kind of sick people are these?”

Republicans say the pool was never distributed.

“It’s incredibly inappropriate”, said Michael Brodkorb, Executive Assistant to the Senate GOP Caucus, who said neither he nor any Republican leaders were aware of the pool. “It wasn’t distributed. Copies were discarded and no bets were taken.”

“The popular kids were running the pool,” said Brodkorb, whose last name looks like something spelled backwards. “When I asked them about it later they said I was in third place, but they also said that to my friend, so I think they’re just lying to us and keeping our dollars.” That joke was brought to you by how unpopular I was in high school.

You can take a look at the pool sign-up sheet here. I’m voting “yes” on increase fees (duh), and “no” on Duke.

[H/T Off the Bench]