No Budget Deal With Legislature In Final 36 Hours
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Gov. Mark Dayton and GOP legislative leaders are meeting again but there's still no sign of progress in their divide over taxes and spending levels in the state budget.
The House speaker and Senate majority leader left the governor's office Sunday afternoon after an hour-long meeting in which the leaders said the basic dynamic did not change.
Republicans have approved a $34 billion budget plan they say should be enough to cover state spending the next two years. Dayton wants $1.8 million in additional revenue to avoid cuts and reductions to social services and other programs.
Besides meeting with top leaders Dayton has been spending the day going over budget bills with Republican committee chairs. But few at the Capitol are optimistic an agreement will be reached before the regular session ends at midnight Monday.
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