State lawmakers took the night off Wednesday to catch up on sleep, and will be back at the Capitol at noon today for a marathon session to try to finish the state budget. It’s been late-nighters and all-nighters for legislators for weeks, particularly after the legislature missed its Monday midnight deadline to wrap up the […]
Minnesota lawmakers miss another budget deadline
Republicans have decided to continue a special session beyond the one day that was agreed on, because they’re running behind schedule on finishing the $46 billion state budget. House Democratic Minority Leader Melissa Hortman asked Republican leaders “What is your intention at 7:01 am today? Do you plan to abide by the agreement or break the […]
Disagreement between Dems and GOP over pre-emption bill and pension bill threatens special session
Minnesota lawmakers will not meet their self-imposed deadline to wrap up the state budget by 7 o’clock this morning and adjourn the special session. Some in the Democratic minority appear to be trying to gain concessions from Republicans before they agree to extend the special session into another day. Republicans could move forward anyway, but […]
Dayton, GOP leaders announce budget deal, MN Legislature in special session (with AUDIO)
The Minnesota Legislature is in special session after Governor Mark Dayton and Republicans announced a budget deal 45 minutes before Monday’s midnight deadline. Lawmakers didn’t have time to pass the budget bills before the Constitution required they adjourn, so the Senate and House ended the 2017 regular session just before midnight, then went into special session […]
Dayton, GOP leaders scrambling to get budget deal as session clock ticks down (with AUDIO)
As Monday’s midnight deadline looms, the Republican-controlled Minnesota Legislature has passed several budget bills — believing Governor Mark Dayton will sign them — while Dayton and GOP leaders continue trying to reach a deal on big items like human services and E-12 education spending. A three-plus-billion-dollar higher education funding bill would give a 54-million-dollar increase to the U-of-M and a 106-million-dollar […]
State budget talks stalemated, GOP to pass bills they hope Gov. Dayton will sign
The budget stalemate continues at the State Capitol with three days left in the session and Republican leaders say although there’s been “real movement” on both sides, time is short and they’re moving forward with bills they think Governor Mark Dayton will sign. It’s the same strategy as two years ago when there ended up […]
Budget stalemate continues at MN Capitol, four days left in session (with AUDIO)
The stalemate continues between Governor Mark Dayton and Republicans over the state budget with four days left in the legislative session. Their last exchange was Wednesday when Dayton proposed what he called a “Meet Half Way” deal, Republicans counter-offered, and both accused the other of hardly budging at all. Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka is […]
GOP’s $800 million bonding bill fails in Minnesota House (with AUDIO)
A setback for those pushing a bonding bill for state public works projects, when an 800-million-dollar measure floated by Republicans couldn’t get enough votes to pass in the Minnesota House late Wednesday. Sponsor, Grove City Republican Dean Urdahl says the Senate’s and governor’s proposals are both larger and asked colleagues, “Do you really think that, […]
Dayton, GOP leaders move closer on numbers as state budget negotiations continue (with AUDIO)
State budget negotiations continue this morning at the Minnesota Capitol. Republicans and Governor Mark Dayton seem to be making progress toward agreement on the state budget, with both sides on Tuesday moving toward each other on spending and tax cuts. But major sticking points remain. One is transportation funding, and Senate Republican Majority Leader Paul Gazelka […]
Gov. Dayton vetoes rest of GOP budget bills, negotiations to resume Tues a-m (with AUDIO)
Governor Mark Dayton as promised vetoed the rest of Republicans’ state budget bills Monday night and the two sides resume negotiations Tuesday morning with one week remaining in the legislative session. The governor says he’ll make an offer that’s a “very significant departure” from the budget he proposed in January and will include “serious cuts, very serious […]