Wisconsin, unlike US government, among states open for business

Sure, you might be locked out of Yellowstone National Park, but Wisconsin's Yellowstone Lake State Park is open and bursting with early fall color.

And maybe a trip to the Smithsonian museums is out of the question amid the partial federal government shutdown, but the Badger State's museums continue to welcome art, history and heritage seekers.

While the latest congressional impasse may be hitting operations at the federal level, the state of Wisconsin, for now, is "business as usual," according to a state spokeswoman.

"(P)rograms are continuing and staff in federally-funded positions at the state agencies are still reporting to work," Stephanie Marquis, spokeswoman for the state Department of Administration wrote Wisconsin Reporter Tuesday in an e-mail.

Marquis said DOA officials, just like about everyone else, have not received any indication from the federal government about the duration of the latest government shutdown. U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Janesville, did suggest to national media on Tuesday that the stalemate could extend at least two more weeks, just before the next  U.S. debt ceiling clock strikes midnight. Ryan, in the New York Times, said the deadline to address the nation's debt limit could be "the forcing mechanism to bring the two parties together."

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