Gov. Mark Dayton (File photo)
As lawmakers arrive back at the State Capitol, Governor Mark Dayton is outlining problems he has with state budget bills the Republican-controlled Minnesota House and Senate passed before their Passover and Easter break. The details are in 55 letters totaling 179 pages from Dayton administration officials. The big issues remain tax cuts — which Dayton says are so large they will unbalance the state budget in the long term — and spending. The governor writes to legislative leaders that services to Minnesotans should not be arbitrarily reduced and if Republicans propose cuts, they must say what services they want to stop providing to the people of Minnesota. Dayton says “we will not begin to discuss any budget cuts” which do not provide those specifics. Dayton and Republicans have until May 22nd to agree on the budget or a special session will be necessary. The governor says the “end-of-session gamesmanship” of two years ago must not be repeated.