Lyndon Carlson and Phyllis Kahn won election to the Minnesota House in November 1972, the same night Nixon trounced his Democratic challenger, George McGovern.

A delay was caused by the late submission of a series of negotiating requests from Gov. Mark Dayton, who sought the inclusion of several provisions that had not yet been funded in the bill.

Rep. Lyndon Carlson, who chairs the House Ways & Means Committee, said a few provisions in the agriculture and jobs portions of the budget were the most significant hang-ups left.

Lawmakers must still come together on $54 million in education spending.

The subject targets, ranging from higher education to health and human services, signal that an overall deal on specific projects and policies is close.

Final sector-by-sector targets should ease quick agreement.

Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk says proposed amendments to the state constitution should need backing from 60 percent of both the Senate and the House.

The decision to import steel has been the subject of criticism, not least from former legislator and Iron Range DFL stalwart Tom Rukavina.

Swanson’s opposition creates another political obstacle to the administration’s efforts to modify the terms of confinement for about 700 men.

As the nation recovers from a long and deep recession, state governments are seeing their financial situations stabilize. Now that legislatures are no longer trying to figure out how to plug multibillion-dollar budget deficits, they are starting to test the waters of spending and tax reform.