House Speaker Kurt Daudt, Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka (right from center) and other Republican leaders announce end-of-session strategy
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 being a special session, but House Speaker Kurt Daudt says, “I hope that’s not where we’re headed. I hope that we’ve all kind of learned that we still do have an opportunity to work together over the next two or three days, and I hope it means we can get it done right by the end.” Republicans say they’ve moved exactly half way toward Dayton’s position with what they’re proposing for tax cuts. There’s 300 million dollars in the GOP plan for additional transportation funding, which Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka calls a must-do.