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 risk antagonizing even more Democrats which could slow down the process of finishing the state budget. House D-F-L Leader Melissa Hortman says she asked Republicans for something “entirely reasonable” and “the failure of the majority in the House to provide that has made some people pretty unhappy.”
Democrats don’t like that Republicans are trying to get Governor Mark Dayton to change his mind about vetoing a bill that overrides family medical leave ordinances in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. G-O-P lawmakers put a rider dealing with state employee pensions in that bill to try to force the governor’s hand.
Governor Dayton issued a statement last night saying he’ll honor his commitment to veto the so-called “pre-emption bill,” and accuses Republicans of pitting state employees’ financial security against local governments’ rights to make decisions for their constituents.