One area legislator is donating his earnings from the time of the Minnesota government shutdown to the United Way of Freeborn and Mower counties.

“So many of my family and friends were affected by the shutdown, I felt it wasn’t right for me to accept that salary during the government shutdown,” said Sen. Dan Sparks, DFL-Austin.

Sparks made the decision to donate the 20 days of pay when the state would not allow him to withhold his July paycheck. When Sparks asked to reject his July check, the checks had already been issued.

“I then told the Senate I would like to withhold August pay instead, but now I am told it is not possible because the shutdown is over and all salaries are required to be paid,” Sparks said in a letter to the Tribune (see Page 4). “I believe donating my salary to the United Way is the next best option — it keeps the dollars local and helps support our communities.”

Sparks’ decision to donate to the United Way was solidified when he met with local non-profits and realized how much the shutdown was going to affect them.

Rep. Rich Murray, R-Albert Lea, also tried to reject his July paycheck but was unable because the checks had already been issued.

Murray said he hasn’t cashed the July check yet, but legislators who wanted to reject shutdown pay might now be able to detract that money from their September checks.

“They basically had the (July) checks prepared beforehand, so they couldn’t undo it,” Murray said. “We had a whole bunch of other people (state employees) who weren’t getting a paycheck, and I don’t think it’s fair that we were getting one.”

Murray said he’s waiting to make sure his pay is taken from his September check before he cashes the one from July.

Rep. Jeanne Poppe, DFL-Austin, was unavailable for comment.