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Legislature (finally) passes budget deal, clearing path for adjournment
A marathon final legislative push came to a close on Monday morning when the House and Senate approved a plan to eliminate the state's nearly $3 billion budget deficit. Legislative leaders and Gov. Tim Pawlenty reached agreement on the deal after weeks of acrimony and one last day of negotiations.
Budget deal still awaiting legislative approval
When Gov. Tim Pawlenty and legislative leaders announced late Sunday night that they'd reached a deal to close the state's nearly $3 billion budget deficit, the session was expected to be over in a few hours. But the approval process has dragged on much longer than anticipated.
Budget deal in place, Legislature headed toward immediate special session
Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the DFL-controlled legislature have apparently reached a deal to close the state's $3 billion deficit. But facing a midnight cutoff for any legislative votes, there's no time to get the agreement passed by the House and Senate.
DFL offers second counter-proposal to end budget standoff
DFL legislative leaders have put forth a second proposal aimed at ending the budget impasse prior to the midnight deadline for passage. The key moving pieces: a revamped deal to salvage the General Assistance Medical Care Program and a bill authorizing early expansion of the state's Medicaid program if Gov. Tim Pawlenty or the state's next top executive opts to do so.
DFL House and Senate present counter-offer
Margaret Anderson Kelliher has just announced a joint House and Senate counter-offer to Governor Pawlenty's proposal. The DFL's "Governor Opt-in Offer" calls for a new bill which would prevent a special session.
Gov. Pawlenty proposes deal to break budgetary impasse
With time quickly running out on the legislative session, Gov. Tim Pawlenty has put forth a new proposal to settle the state's nearly $3 billion budget deficit. The deal would include $1.8 billion in accounting shifts and all of the unilateral budget cuts that Pawlenty made last year. It would also rely on $408 million in federal Medicaid dollars that have not yet been appropriated by Congress, bu[...]
Overheard at the Capitol: GOP health waiver push is about 2010 election
Shortly after legislators began gathering on the House floor Sunday afternoon, House Minority Leader Kurt Zellers (R-Maple Grove) told us on the chamber floor that he believed there was "no way" Gov. Tim Pawlenty would sign a budget bill that includes the early expansion federal Medicaid program that Democrats want.
Presidential politics and the last hours of session
With less than a dozen hours left to do a deal, the last regularly scheduled game of chicken between Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the Minnesota Legislature comes down to this: Who will blink first over the inclusion of a federal Medicaid program in the budget?
Legislators emerge from budget powwow expressing optimism
House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher described this afternoon's budget talks as "fairly positive." Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem called the negotiating session "very productive." Brian McClung, spokesman for Gov. Tim Pawlenty, said "there's no reason we can't come together on this and conclude in a timely manner."
Overheard at the Capitol: The state of the budget talks
Reporters are camping outside the governor's office again at this hour. We've been hearing today that Gov. Tim Pawlenty has kicked the negotiations back to the Legislature, telling the Republican caucuses to come up with a budget proposal of their own and hash it out with Democrats.
Dems detail health and human services bill, but prospect of veto looms
A proposal to expand Medicaid coverage to childless adults who earn up to $8,000 will cost the state $188 million through 2013, according to DFL legislative leaders. However, the Medicaid plan would tap $1.4 billion in federal dollars available as part of the health care reform package passed by Congress in March.
House DFL budget defectors: Who are they?
Sixteen House Democrats voted against a DFL proposal to close the state's $3 billion budget deficit last night. The defectors came almost entirely from rural and suburban districts that can swing toward either political party.
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