Politics & Government

Shutdown Roundup: Wednesday Is Do Or Die For Budget Negotiations, Says Dayton

Dayton, GOP call Tuesday talks constructive and productive, still seem miles away from resolution

Gov. Mark Dayton called yesterday’s 2 p.m. budget talks with GOP leadership “constructive and productive” but also said Wednesday is the day a deal needs to get done.  
 
Dayton said the parties are making progress but that even if a deal is struck, there is precious little time to draft and pass any new legislation before the government shutdown happens at 12:01 a.m. on Friday morning.

Dayton also reconfirmed that he would not call for a special legislative session unless an agreement looked imminent.  

Senator Amy Koch (R-Buffalo) and House Speaker Kurt Zellers (R-Maple Grove) emerged from the same meeting singing a slightly more optimistic tune.

“We’re not frustrated, we feel good,” Koch told reporters after the meeting. “We’re very close on a lot of these bills.”

When pressed, Koch said the process was about 40 percent done.

Despite Dayton’s ominous tone, Koch and Zellers said that after the progress they have already made there is plenty of time to pass and draft bills once they call to the Capitol Minnesota’s legislators.

Talks are scheduled to resume Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. in the governor’s reception room.


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