Gov. Mark Dayton
“Not promising for sure,” said Governor Mark Dayton as he and Republicans begin the last three days of the legislative session with no budget agreement, and Republicans prepare to pass a second set of budget bills without Dayton’s blessing. The biggest disagreement is over tax cuts. Republican House Speaker Kurt Daudt says they’ve come down half way to the governor’s position. He says, “Leave that money out there with Minnesotans and let them invest it in their family, let them invest it in their small business. It is our top priority, and I don’t think the governor can ask us to go beyond half way.” Dayton responds Republicans’ plan takes money from critical programs and could put the state’s finances in jeopardy. “They want to just sort of give it all away and throw the rest of the decade to the wind, and I’m not willing to agree to that,” Dayton says.
Senate Republican Majority Leader Paul Gazelka indicates Republicans won’t drop their tax cut number any further. “We’re there. We’re at the bottom,” he says. “That’s why we made that public statement… why we’re still moving forward but inviting the governor to come in.” Dayton responds the budget can’t handle tax cuts the size Republicans want, plus fund additional transportation projects that both sides agree are needed. He says, “I’m not gonna leave the state of Minnesota in the kind of predicament that I inherited in 2011. The budget and the tax cut has to be fiscally responsible.”
House Democratic Minority Leader Tom Bakk says as G-O-P leaders demand large tax cuts, “what the Republicans need to remember is the governor doesn’t need a tax bill.” Bakk says Republicans must send the governor a state budget or they’ll be accused of not getting their work done, but he says the governor doesn’t have to agree to Republicans’ tax cuts if they endanger the state’s financial stability.
The deadline is midnight Monday.